Midge the Sea Lion
Encyclopedia
Midge the Sea Lion was a famous sea lion
in residence at the Oklahoma City
zoo.
Midge was born in 1985. She was rescued from the California coast with severe nutritional and respiratory problems. She was given to the zoo by the Santa Barbara
Marine Mammal Center in 1986. She was one of the original animals living at the zoo for the debut of the Noble Aquatic Center: Aquaticus in 1986. She was popular among zoo guests for her outgoing nature. One of the stars of the zoo sea lion show for many years, her artwork was popular at shows among zoo artwork buyers.
Thousands of white nodules on her lungs were believed to be lung cancer. Due to declining health which caused her weight to drop from 175 to 125 pounds and require hospice care by zoo staff, a group of animal trainers, curators and veterinary staff members decided to euthanize the sea lion. Midge was euthanized
on November 5, 2010, and was cremated. Tissue samples were taken before cremation so a zoo pathologist could determine exactly what illness the sea lion had.
"Midge has been a wonderful ambassador for the zoo by educating and entertaining hundreds of thousands of people about sea lions, conservation and the environment," Executive Director Dwight Scott stated. "She will be missed by many."
Sea Lion
Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear-flaps, long fore-flippers, the ability to walk on all fours, and short thick hair. Together with the fur seal, they comprise the family Otariidae, or eared seals. There are six extant and one extinct species in five genera...
in residence at the Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
zoo.
Midge was born in 1985. She was rescued from the California coast with severe nutritional and respiratory problems. She was given to the zoo by the Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
Marine Mammal Center in 1986. She was one of the original animals living at the zoo for the debut of the Noble Aquatic Center: Aquaticus in 1986. She was popular among zoo guests for her outgoing nature. One of the stars of the zoo sea lion show for many years, her artwork was popular at shows among zoo artwork buyers.
Thousands of white nodules on her lungs were believed to be lung cancer. Due to declining health which caused her weight to drop from 175 to 125 pounds and require hospice care by zoo staff, a group of animal trainers, curators and veterinary staff members decided to euthanize the sea lion. Midge was euthanized
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
on November 5, 2010, and was cremated. Tissue samples were taken before cremation so a zoo pathologist could determine exactly what illness the sea lion had.
"Midge has been a wonderful ambassador for the zoo by educating and entertaining hundreds of thousands of people about sea lions, conservation and the environment," Executive Director Dwight Scott stated. "She will be missed by many."