West Edmonton Mall announces death of 'beloved' California sea lion
Visitors at the West Edmonton Mall will see one less clapping critter at Sea Lions’ Rock.
The mall announced Monday their "beloved" California sea lion, Clara, has died.
Clara, who was 30, had “long outlived” the expected life span of a California sea lion, usually only 15 to 20-years-old, the mall said on Monday.
“Clara was so full of personality – she was sweet, gentle, and nurturing, but also strong and decisive,” officials said in a social media post.
The mall says Clara was born in Blackpool Zoo in England on June 16, 1994. She came to Edmonton October 2004 along with two other sea lions, Kelpie and her younger brother Pablo.
“In the last few years, Clara really started to show her age. As her vision and mobility decreased in her twilight years, we adapted how we worked with her,” WEM said.
Ramps, audio instead of visual cues and a mobility sled in the pool were all adjustments made to help Clara feel comfortable and welcome her into retirement.
Clara was known for her “strength and grace in her beautiful, distinctive backflips through the pool.”
The mall says her trainers often joked she could run through the entire sea lion performance without any help and losing her is like “losing a coworker.”
In her younger years, Clara was also known to be a teacher to other sea lions. She taught Quinty “how to be a sea lion” and worked with new trainers.
To honour Clara, WEM is asking people to donate to Hope for Wildlife, an organization that rescues and rehabilitates injured and orphaned wild animals
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING B.C. NDP poised to win 2024 election, with judicial recounts increasingly likely
Incumbent B.C. Premier David Eby’s NDP appears poised to win the province’s nail-biting 2024 election – and could potentially retain the party’s majority, by the narrowest of margins.
'We promise to be better': N.S. firefighter club criticized after group in KKK costumes attends Halloween dance
A group of Cape Breton firefighters are apologizing after four people showed up at a Halloween dance dressed in what appeared to be Ku Klux Klan costumes.
'Nobody wants to blow up the party': Trudeau staying, despite resignation calls
Several Liberal MPs are calling for a secret ballot vote on Justin Trudeau's leadership after he made clear he isn't going anywhere in spite of the calls from within his caucus to step down.
Previously unseen photos of Prince William with his mother Diana visiting homeless charity released
Prince William has opened up about how a powerful childhood experience with his brother and late mother helped shape his work in combatting homelessness.
Next CPP payment coming on Tuesday for Canadian retirees
Here's how retirees will get their funds from the federal benefit.
Ont. couple accused of human trafficking plead not guilty as complainant testifies
Marred by several delays, the trial of alleged human traffickers Lauriston and Amber Maloney finally got underway on Monday in a Bradford courtroom, with a woman who worked and lived with the couple testifying.
Google exempt from Online News Act for 5 years, must pay news outlets $100M: CRTC
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission has granted Google a five-year exemption from the Online News Act, ordering it to pay $100 million to Canadian news outlets within 60 days.
'Pieces of wood': Gummy candies recalled, Canadian Food Inspection Agency says
A recall has been issued for gummy candies due to pieces of wood, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
'Bob's Burgers' actor sentenced to 1 year in prison for role in Capitol riot
An actor known for his roles in the television comedies “Bob's Burgers” and “Arrested Development” was sentenced on Monday to one year in prison for his part in a mob's attack on the U.S. Capitol nearly four years ago.