FRESNO, CALIF — An 8-year-old California Sea Lion, Catalina, passed away at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo on Saturday, July 16th.
A necropsy was performed and results determined that Catalina succumbed to Valley Fever.
Catalina came to Fresno on January 28, 2010 from the Fort MacArthur Marine Mammal Center as a rescued sea lion. Due to a rear flipper injury – most likely a shark bite – she was unable to survive in the wild.
The following statement was prepared by the Zoo’s mammal’s team:
“Guests loved hearing about Catalina’s rescue story – how she survived a shark attack and came to Fresno as a young sea lion. She brought energy to our sea lion presentations; and was always up for porpoising around higher than any of the other animals. She was our go-to animal when we wanted to show how athletic and energetic sea lions were during behind the scenes tours. We can’t imagine how many guests she inspired to care more about the health of the oceans and the animals that live there. It will always warm our hearts to remember that about her.”
