Aquarium of Niagara announces passing of rescued grey seal, Della

Aquarium of Niagara Press Release & Photo

The Aquarium of Niagara is deeply saddened to announce the passing of its 35-year-old rescued grey seal, Della.

The venue’s veterinary team recently diagnosed Della with a severe condition in her shoulder, which was causing her pain and affecting her mobility. Despite interventions to address her comfort, Della’s health continued to decline. With careful consideration for her overall quality of life, the veterinarians, in cooperation with zoological staff, made the difficult decision to pursue humane euthanasia. Pathologists are still identifying the exact cause of Della’s condition.

Della was one of the most recognizable animals at the Aquarium of Niagara and was a fixture of the outdoor Rescue Harbor exhibit for a decade. Rescued in 1990 after consistently interacting with humans off the coast of Delaware (her namesake), Della was placed at Zoo Knoxville and later spent time at both Lincoln Park Zoo and Brookfield Zoo in Chicago before coming to the Aquarium of Niagara in 2015.

While under human care, Della developed bilateral cataracts and became completely blind. Despite this obstacle, Della was able to participate in her husbandry through verbal and tactile cues – and even foster direct connections with hundreds of visitors through the venue’s seal encounter program.

Della was a tremendous ambassador for her species and exemplified the importance of giving rescued animals a second chance at life. The median life expectancy for a grey seal in the wild is 25-35 years old, and Della’s advanced age at the time of her death is a testament to the high quality of care she received while living at accredited zoological facilities.

In celebration of Della’s life, the Aquarium of Niagara invites the public to share their photos and memories via the site’s social media channels.

The Aquarium of Niagara is a nonprofit organization and public aquarium located in downtown Niagara Falls. As the only aquatic museum in the region, the Aquarium of Niagara serves the community as a nexus for explorative learning by celebrating natural wonders and inspiring people to make a difference for aquatic life. Its 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 venue 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.