Mizore The Ringed Seal Has Passed Away

Mizore the ringed seal has passed away

Yesterday Otaru aquarium confirmed his death, he was only 3

Read below for some background on his situation (as well as my thoughts)

in august last year it was announced that Mizore from osaka aquarium was going to move to Otaru aquarium. This right away caused concern, mizore had a tricky birth, he was sick & his mother didn't want to care for him because of that, so the staff at osaka aquarium nursed him back to health and raised him. He had a very strong bond with the staff there as well as living with 2 other seals yuki & arare.

In october he was moved & it was said that he'd be moving for a breeding program, mizore only turned 3 this April and male ringed seals mate at around 7 so this was odd.

Once moved to otaru mizore was put in a small cube enclosure by himself. From what I saw from the people who went to visit him he hardly had any enrichment, he just sat around & scratched at the walls. At osaka mizores favourite spot was this litte raised ice shelf he could lean against and there was nothing alike it at otaru, I didn't see much videos of keepers coming in to play with him. He was very social & loved people. Otaru aquarium seems to have a tricky history with animals passing away which concerned people regarding Mizore moving there.

According to otarus blog post he started to refuse food early June, that is an obvious sign of an animal stressed in its environment.. it is very sad to say but I think poor mizore died of loneliness & a broken heart, this never would've happened if he stayed at osaka aquarium and I am quite upset with the situation

Rest in peace sweet mizore