Ringo the seal, estimated to be 46 years old, died this week, the Milwaukee County Zoo announced. (Milwaukee County Zoo)
Milwaukee
A zoo in Milwaukee announced that one of its beloved seals has died.
Ringo the seal, estimated to be 46 years old, died this week, the Milwaukee County Zoo announced.
He had lived at the zoo for more than four decades.
“We are saddened to announce that harbor seal Ringo has died. Ringo arrived here in 1979,” the zoo shared.
Zoo officials said he died from complications during surgery on Nov. 26 to remove his right eye.
“Unfortunately, Ringo experienced anesthetic complications during the procedure, and after numerous attempts, he was unable to be revived,” the zoo said.
According to the zoo’s animal care team, his eye had ruptured in August creating a hole in the cornea and posed a risk of infection.
The team delayed surgery to see if the rupture would heal, but the procedure became necessary.
Ringo was well-known for taking naps at the bottom of the outdoor pool. His caretakers shared that he was easygoing and had a sweet and calm disposition.
According to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the median life expectancy for a harbor seal in human care is 23 years. At 46, Ringo was the second-oldest harbor seal living in an AZA-accredited facility in North America.