UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The Utica Zoo's sea lion pup, Jack, passed away unexpectedly sometime this morning. Caretakers at the zoo say the pup was, "alive and active" during his breakfast feeding but when they returned for a noon feeding Jack was found at the bottom of the pool.

Jack was then transferred, unresponsive, to the zoo's veterinary center where officials say they worked on him for over 40-minutes.

Dr. Ellen Hilton, zoo veterinarian, found no obvious cause of death and Jack's body has been transferred to Cornell University for a thorough examination, the results of which are pending.

Beth Irons, Executive Director of the Utica Zoo, says," The Utica Zoo maintains industry best practices, adheres to expert zoological recommendations and our sea lion family has been healthy and hardy and has been enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year. This is a sudden and painful loss for the Utica Zoo and the community that loved him."