Oregon Zoo staff enthanized a 26-year-old Sea Lion Sunday that had quickly deteorated over the weekend.
The zoo considers the sea lion to be the most ancient species of its kind even after his arrival to the facility in 200 The Oregonian reported.
Zookeepers were very cautious about who was allowed inside the sea lion's habitat.
"He wasn't the one to be trusted," Amy Cutting, an animal curator told The Oregonian.
"When you're so close to it, and you see it every day, the decline is so gradual you almost don't notice it," Cutting told The Oregonian.
The Sea Lion named Julius came into the world July 21, 1987, and then headed to Portland following a stint at Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium.
Arthritis, and macular degeneration plagued Julius until he was put down Sunday when his conditions worsened following a previous casual decrease.
"If you live long enough. You're gonna wear out your parts." Mitch Finnegan, chief veterinarian at the Oregon Zoon told The Oregonian. "We can't ask 'em where it hurts."
"By the time you see pain," Nicole Nicassio-Hiskey, a senior marine life keeper told The Oregonian "It's probably pretty serious."
The zoo's other animals are also reaching age milestones. Julius's counterpart, Gus is also 26. Tusko the elephant is 42, and Packy is 50. Polar Bears Conrad and Tasul are 27. Kia, the Amur Leopard is 16. Fanny the L'Hoest's monkey is 27. Blaze the tree kangaroo is 21. Coco the chimp is 60. Inji the Organutan is 50.
The zoo's Gibbons or small Southeastern Asia Apes in Phyllis and Nancy are 41, with Gunther at 47.
Mom the mountain goat is 15. Vivian the sun bear is 26. Dannon the swamp monkey is 21, and Mandrills or big baboons Nikki and Victoria are 25 years old.
Staff at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's Prineville district office euthanized an alligator snapping turtle in October in what turns the animal into an important piece of the department's instructional display. Officials used guidelines from the American Veterinary Medical Association which included relaxing the turtle, then hitting it in the head
