Mystic Aquarium

It is with great sadness that Sea Research Foundation’s Mystic Aquarium reports that Kodiak, a 15-year-old male Steller sea lion, passed away today. Despite the extraordinary efforts of Mystic Aquarium’s animal care team and marine mammal specialists nationwide, Kodiak was humanely euthanized after not responding to treatment of liver disease and kidney failure. A necropsy will be performed in hopes to learn more about his illness.

Kodiak came to Mystic Aquarium from Vancouver Aquarium in 2002. At 2,000 pounds, he was a tremendous ambassador for his species and a favorite among Mystic Aquarium guests for his size and exuberant personality. Mystic Aquarium trainers were continually impressed by his intelligence and ability to learn new behaviors.

The Steller sea lion is the largest member of the eared seal family and fourth largest pinniped behind the northern elephant seal, southern elephant seal and walrus. The species is found mainly around the coasts to the outer continental shelf along the North Pacific Ocean rim from northern Hokkaiddo, Japan through the Kuril Islands and Okhotsk Sea, Aleutian Islands and central Bering Sea, southern coast of Alaska and south to California. Divided into eastern and western regions, the western population is endangered and the eastern population is threatened.

Published on August 10, 2012