By Associated Press

July 2, 2006, 8:54 AM EDT

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Three of the five sea lions at an aquarium died within 24 hours in two unrelated incidents, officials said.

Kona, a 4-year-old female, and her 4-week-old pup died of unknown causes Saturday at the Aquarium of the Pacific. They had appeared healthy early in the afternoon but an hour later were found motionless. Attempts to revive them failed.

The pup was the first to be born at the aquarium since it opened in 1998.

On Friday, a 7-year-old female sea lion named Roxy died from a reaction to anesthesia during emergency surgery after delivering a stillborn pup Thursday night.

"It's like having three of your pets in your house dying all at the same time," said spokeswoman Cecile Fisher. "We all love our animals, and for anything to happen to one of them is bad, but for this to happen to three is just terrible."
beachguy in thongs Reviewed by beachguy in thongs on . 3 Sea Lions Die at California Aquarium By Associated Press July 2, 2006, 8:54 AM EDT LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Three of the five sea lions at an aquarium died within 24 hours in two unrelated incidents, officials said. Kona, a 4-year-old female, and her 4-week-old pup died of unknown causes Saturday at the Aquarium of the Pacific. They had appeared healthy early in the afternoon but an hour later were found motionless. Attempts to revive them failed. The pup was the first to be born at the aquarium since it opened in 1998. Rating: 5