Sea Lion At Turtle Back Zoo In NJ Dies, Necropsy Launched

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A 9-year-old California sea lion at the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange has died, county officials announced Tuesday.

Dyson was stranded as a pup and deemed non-releasable, then given a permanent home at the zoo, according to its website.

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. released the following statement about the animal’s death:

“We are saddened about the passing of Dyson, one of our beloved sea lions at Turtle Back Zoo. Stranded when he was young and unable to live in the wild, Dyson brought joy and delight to those who visited Turtle Back and was an integral part of our programs to educate the public about conservation and the current challenges facing wildlife. We are waiting for the results from the necropsy so we can fully understand the cause of his death.”

Staff at the zoo also offered a message of mourning for Dyson:

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our sea lion, Dyson. A full necropsy is pending and will hopefully provide us with some insight into our loss. Dyson was stranded as a pup, and soon after he was rescued, he came to live at Turtle Back Zoo.”

Zoo staff continued:

“Dyson is described by our animal care staff as smart, energetic and fun-loving. He loved to learn new and challenging behaviors from his animal keepers, especially when they would train him from the roof! Between his intelligence and fiery personality, he was easy to love and will be sorely missed. Dyson was a wonderful ambassador for his species, commanding attention during sessions and educating our guests on the importance of protecting and conserving our oceans along with our other two residents, JR and Zeus. Sea lions are native to the west coast of North America and are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.”

The beloved sea lion has been a fixture at the zoo since his arrival years ago, as seen on social media.

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