Sydney seal at Rushcutters Bay park dead after being taken away for treatment

Sealvester, the seal which delighted residents and visitors at Rushcutters Bay during its short stay in the area, has died.

Sealvester's story:

The Australian fur seal was first spotted sunbaking on March 24
It was nicknamed 'Sealvester' by local residents and was a star of social media
Today officials from Taronga Zoo sedated it and took it away for treatment

Taronga Wildlife Hospital confirmed today the seal, which reportedly had an eye wound and was underweight, had passed away after it was sedated and taken away for treatment

The Australian fur seal was regularly spotted sunning itself at leafy Rushcutters Bay Park in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs over the past two weeks.

Sealvester, as it was nicknamed, quickly became a favourite of passers-by at the waterfront after being first spotted in the area on March 24.

But according to the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), which had been keeping a close watch on the 100-kilogram male, Sealvester developed an eye infection which required treatment.

External Link: Instagram post by @emstolenburger : Now that's just sad

ORRCA volunteer Shona Lorigan told ABC News the seal's condition had been slowly getting worse.

"Over the last couple of days we've watched his condition deteriorate — particularly his eye wound," Ms Lorigan said. "And his body condition has also gone down hill."

Seal a social media star

Sealvester's sunbaking was not without controversy.

Several days after it was first spotted, the City of Sydney constructed a temporary fence at the base of the ocean steps the seal had been using to access the foreshore.

The decision caused a stir on social media and the fence was subsequently breached.

It was then moved back to allow Sealvester to access part of the foreshore, which the animal had been doing until today.

Sealvester soaking up the sun in happier times in March

The park is a popular dog-walking area for residents of the picturesque suburb, and they had been urged to keep a safe distance from the seal for their own safety.

Ms Lorigan said the residents had been respecting the seal's space, giving it the "very best chance to recover".

According to ORRCA volunteers, seal numbers in NSW are on the rise, with regular sightings up and down the coast after almost being hunted to extinction in the past.

ORRCA monitors several solitary seals in the harbour and the closest breeding colony is on Montague Island, off Narooma.

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