Denver Zoo sea lion dies during surgery prep

One of the Denver Zoo’s most recognizable male sea lions has died.

The zoo says Bismarck died Wednesday under anesthesia while he was being prepared for surgery to remove a testicle that hadn’t dropped. The surgery was meant to help him avoid future health problems.

The sea lion was found near a pier in Newport Beach, Calif., in 2008 as an orphaned pup missing his rear flippers. He came to the Denver Zoo in 2009.

Bismarck was believed to be about 5 years old.