SAN DIEGO (AP) — Freeway, the ocean lion rescued after wandering inland from his ocean residence and crossing busy San Diego thoroughfares, has been euthanized after falling ailing.
The sea lion earned his identify in January 2022 after being discovered on State Route 94, a freeway a number of miles from shore, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
The SeaWorld San Diego crew that acquired him to security mentioned he’d been beforehand noticed at San Diego International Airport and in a storm drain within the Logan Heights neighborhood.
Before being rescued final 12 months, Freeway had contracted a “progressive disease that our animal care experts diagnosed,” SeaWorld mentioned in assertion Friday.
“Despite extensive treatment, the disease caused his health to deteriorate over time,” the assertion mentioned.
Given his decline, the crew made the choice to humanely euthanize him, SeaWorld mentioned.
Freeway was first rescued in November 2021 when he was discovered on a busy street close to North San Diego Bay. A rescue crew rehabbed him at SeaWorld for every week, fitted his left flipper with an orange tag and introduced him again to the ocean.
SeaWorld by no means discovered why the ocean lion saved wandering so removed from the ocean.
When animals wander out of their habitat, it’s normally for meals, SeaWorld officers informed the Union-Tribune final 12 months. But Freeway’s weight was good and he appeared wholesome on the time.
“His adventurous spirit won the hearts of all San Diegans and he will be remembered for that and so much more,” SeaWorld mentioned.
This story was first printed on April 23, 2023. It was up to date on April 24, 2023 to appropriate that the animal developed a illness earlier than it was rescued and rehabilitated by SeaWorld, not after.
