It is with great sadness that we share the news that our last two beloved sea lions, Sydney and Milan, have passed away peacefully following the decision to put them to sleep on Friday 6th March 2026 in the interest of their welfare.
Both Sydney and Milan had reached a geriatric age and had been under regular and close supervision by our veterinary team. As with Winnipeg, who we said farewell to earlier this year, the decision was made compassionately and in the best interests of their quality of life. While we are proud of the exceptional care we are able to provide older animals here, there comes a time when continuing to do so would cause them to suffer — and that is something we are never willing to accept.
Sydney and Milan both built irreplaceable bonds with the Animal Care Team over the years, particularly those who had the privilege of working alongside them day in, day out. Losing an animal is like saying goodbye to a member of the family, and this is a truly devastating loss for everyone at CZS. Our thoughts are very much with the team during this incredibly sad time.
Sydney
Sydney was the sensible one — brilliant at her training and always eager to learn something new. She had an incredible energy and was at her happiest during a one-to-one session with her keepers, though she was equally capable of being the most stubborn animal in the habitat when the mood took her! The rest of the group had always naturally gravitated towards her, following her lead and seeking out her company, and it was easy to understand why — Sydney had the kind of presence that made everyone feel at ease.
She lived for the summer months and could almost always be found basking on her favourite rock, a spot her keepers lovingly named ‘Sydney’s Armchair’. She carried out everything with absolute confidence and was never shy about showing off. Sydney had one motto in life: everything you can do, I can do better.
Milan
Milan was, quite simply, the golden girl. On a sunny day, her blonde coat would catch the light beautifully and she would shine. She was the shyest of the group — cautious of anything new and particularly wary of wasps — but as she got older, she grew braver and watching that quiet confidence develop in her was one of the great joys of working with her.
Milan moved entirely at her own pace — her keepers often joked she operated at the speed of a snail — and she had a wonderful way of going about her day. She loved foraging along the bottom of the pool and could often be spotted throwing toys across the water. She had the most beautiful, soulful eyes, and a truly unique vocalisation that her team affectionately described as resembling Homer Simpson mid-burp. It was entirely Milan’s own, and it will be very sorely missed.
Sydney and Milan are truly irreplaceable, and they will be deeply missed by every member of the team who was lucky enough to know and care for them, and of course the huge number of visitors and supporters that fell in love with them over the years.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg sadly passed away on 12th February 2026.
The exact date of Winnipeg’s birth is unknown, but we do know that she was around 25 years old when she passed away. Winnipeg was an aging individual who was under regular supervision by our veterinarians due to her displaying typical geriatric behaviours. The decision was made to put her to sleep in the interest of her welfare.
Winnipeg built irreplaceable bonds with all of the Animal Care Team, especially those who had the pleasure of working with her since she arrived at CZS in November 2003. Having been at the Zoo for over 20 years, Winnipeg was truly part of the CZS family so this is a devasting loss for all.
“Winnipeg always had a special sparkle with endless energy. Being the loudest in the group, you could often hear her calling to the team or chatting to the others within the group. She loved spending time with her sea lion companions and had no concept of personal space so you would often see her laying on top of the others whilst having a snooze!”
– Sea Lion Team at CZS
During her years at CZS, Winnipeg enjoyed her training sessions with the Animal Care Team and carried out everything with her usual Winni flair! Despite having a very short attention span, she always tried her best and participated keenly with health checks and veterinary procedures. One of her favourite things to do was retrieving toys from the pool and she was occasionally known as ‘Witchy Winni’ during Halloween and even ‘Winni from Winchester’ while representing Team GB during the Olympics.
