Staff at West Edmonton Mall’s Sea Lion Rock have announced the passing of Clara, a California sea lion who had delighted visitors for nearly two decades.
Born in 1994 at Blackpool Zoo in England, Clara was later moved to a park in Scotland before joining Sea Lion Rock in Edmonton in 2004. Over the years, as her vision and mobility declined, staff made special accommodations for her, including ramps and audible targets.
The mall reported that Clara passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday at the age of 30, far exceeding the typical 15-20 year lifespan for California sea lions.