Melbourne Zoo seal Gordo dies

Gordo the seal has died at Melbourne Zoo, more than a decade after being rescued when found emaciated and dehydrated on a Victorian beach.

The sub-Antarctic fur seal suffered a cardiac arrest while recovering from an anaesthetic procedure, zoo head vet Dr Michael Lynch said on Thursday.

The 11-year-old was having problems with his kidneys and vets were investigating whether he had a degenerative renal condition. Dr Lynch said it was possible that condition contributed to the arrest.

Gordo was found emaciated and dehydrated on the main beach at Warrnambool in August 2003.

As a yearling not adjusting well to life away from his mother he was not suitable for re-release and was kept in the zoo's care, the zoo said.

Wild Sea keeper Mark Keenan said Gordo was good natured and hundreds of thousands of zoo visitors witnessed his acrobatic skills in daily shows.