Pittsburgh zoo mourns death of northern elephant seal

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium reported Tuesday that its northern elephant seal, Coolio, died during a veterinary procedure.

According to zoo officials, gross necropsy results indicated that 7-year-old Coolio suffered from congenital abnormalities, including blood vessel abnormalities, which likely resulted in severe hypertension.

“Our animals are like family and today we lost a unique member,” said zoo president and CEO Dr. Barbara Baker. “Coolio was an amazing animal who touched not only our lives but our visitors as well. He will be missed dearly.”

Coolio was found severely injured and near death along the California coast when he was just three months old, zoo officials said.

He was rescued and nursed back to health by the Northcoast Marine Mammal Center, but suffered damage to his eyes that left him blind. The NMMC determined that Coolio could not be released back into the wild, and reached out to the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium.

Zoo officials said Coolio adapted well to Pittsburgh, and got along with the zoo’s other northern elephant seal, Ellie Mae.

“He was always eager to learn and despite his disability, he made great progress,” said Paul Moylett, curator of aquatic life.