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Dudley Zoo's oldest sealion Cleo dies

The oldest sealion at Dudley Zoo has died, it has been announced.

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Patagonian sealion Cleo died from natural causes yesterday afternoon.

On June 2 she had turned 28, making her one of the oldest sealions in captivity with the life expectancy usually being between 20 and 25 years old.

Zoo spokeswoman, Rachel Hickman, said: "Cleo will be missed by all at the zoo.

"She was a favourite of staff and visitors.

"She was quite fesisty, and she did like her food. The older she got the grumpier she got.

"She shared a pool with three other sealions and she didn't like to share her food."

Cleo was the last of an older generation of sealions at the zoo, having outlived her previous companions Shirley and Orry.

Last year she was joined by three younger females, Marina, Tania and Deisy, in her enclosure in the centre of the zoo, with male Oba in an adjacent pool.

Cleo had been receiving treatment throughout the week, but yesterday at around 2.30pm it was confirmed that she had died in her sleep.

More than 1,000 people have reacted to Dudley Zoo's Facebook post announcing the sad news, with many leaving comments with their memories of Cleo.

Becky Feeney said: "Oh no...so sad. Cleo was beautiful and a fiesty girl, remember her fondly. Last of the three old sea lions gone now. RIP, have fun swimming to your heart's content in that ocean in the sky."

Sam Dale commented: "Aww that's so sad I was there this afternoon with my children and saw her in the water. RIP CLEO."

Lizzie Bates added: "Condolences to her keepers they must be heartbroken."

This latest news follows the recent death of the zoo's seven-year-old snow leopard Nanga from complications during labour, and then just weeks later the death of her cub Milo.

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