Aquarium of Niagara announces passing of California sea lion Mia

Mia inspired guests with her story of resilience & survival for nearly a decade

Aquarium of Niagara Press Release and Photos

The Aquarium of Niagara is deeply saddened to announce the passing of its rescued California sea lion, Mia.

Mia experienced a four-week period of declining health, during which the aquarium’s veterinarians, in cooperation with the zoological staff, performed extensive diagnostic testing, monitoring and treatments. The team made the extremely difficult decision to humanely euthanize Mia after comprehensive results from a CT scan, along with blood analysis, revealed she was experiencing kidney failure.

While we cannot know Mia’s exact age because she was rescued as an adult, the aquarium estimates Mia was at least 15 years old at the time of her death. The median life span for male and female California sea lions is between 8-12 years in the wild, and 23-24 years in managed care.

Mia, and Mia with AON staffers. (Images courtesy of the Aquarium of Niagara)

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Few animals exemplify the aquarium’s mission like Mia. Found stranded and suffering from pneumonia off the coast of California in June 2014, Mia was brought to the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro, California, where she surprised everyone by giving birth to a pup, Isabel, just one week after her arrival at the rescue facility.

While the goal of any rescue effort is to safely return the animal to the wild, some animals, like Mia, are deemed non-releasable because they would not be able to survive if released. During rehabilitation, Mia experienced seizures, and experts believe that she suffered from domoic acid poisoning as a result of harmful algae blooms.

Domoic acid is a neurotoxin that can cause permanent brain damage in sea lions and other marine mammals, and the outlook for Mia’s survival was bleak. Despite this, the Aquarium of Niagara committed to providing Mia and her pup, Isabel, with a permanent home, and Mia with the advanced level of care she would require for the rest of her life.

"The Aquarium of Niagara has centered its identity on providing high-quality, long-term care for even the most vulnerable animals,” said Chad Fifer, president and CEO. “When you visit the aquarium, you’ll encounter other non-releasable animals like Mia whose lives have been impacted by human activity – things like boat strikes, wildlife trafficking, and owner surrenders. These animals often require special accommodations and husbandry practices, and we are not only proud of our commitment to their wellbeing, but also our efforts to share their stories to drive conservation action for their counterparts in the wild.”

For nearly a decade, Mia defied the odds and served as an incredible ambassador for her species. Her survival story showcases the harmful impact of human activity on wildlife – the harmful algae blooms associated with domoic acid poisoning are caused by fertilizer and sewage runoff as well as warming waters due to climate change – and the aquarium has shared Mia’s story while encouraging millions of guests to form their own connections with this special animal.

Mia’s gentle and laid-back nature made her a favorite of guests and staff alike. She could often be seen sitting on the bottom of her exhibit, simply relaxing in the current, or spending her time in the tunnel under the stage. Mia made tremendous progress with her training over the years and was a regular participant in her own care and husbandry, as well as the aquarium’s daily sea lion presentations, the “Trainer for a Day” program,” public encounters, and even painting sessions.

“As animal care professionals, we are extremely proud to have given the highest level of care to Mia for the past 9 ½ years,” said Hallie Torre, associate curator, marine mammals and birds. “I have been working with Mia since the day she joined our aquarium family, and I’ve watched her grow and develop alongside countless animal care specialists whose lives and careers have been shaped by their work with this incredible animal. Mia brought joy to many, and she will be greatly missed.”

In celebration of Mia’s life, the aquarium invites the public to share their photos and memories via the aquarium’s social media channels.

The Aquarium of Niagara is a nonprofit organization and public aquarium located in Niagara Falls. As the only aquatic museum in the region, it serves the community as a nexus for explorative learning by celebrating natural wonders and inspiring people to make a difference for aquatic life. The campus is comprised of two distinct buildings housing 180 different species, including several that were rescued and deemed unable to return to the wild. The AON is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Alliance for Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, and the International Marine Mammal Trainer’s Association. For more information, visit aquariumofniagara.org.