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

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

It was nicknamed 'Sealvester' by local residents and was a star of social media On Thursday officials from Taronga Zoo sedated it and took it away for treatment

Taronga Wildlife Hospital confirmed the seal, which had eye and flipper wounds and was underweight, died in the van on the way to the hospital after it was sedated to be 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.

Taronga Zoo vet officer Kimberley Vinette Herrin said the decision to intervene and anesthetise the seal was taken after his condition continued to get worse.

"We saw he had lost quite a bit of weight so we anesthetised him to examine his eye and flipper wounds with the aim of having a look at him a little closer," Ms Herrin said.

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"He was about 140kg — a seal that age and that size should probably weigh 205kg or a little more."

Ms Herrin admitted the decision to anesthetise the animal could have had a role in its death, but said it was made for the seal's welfare.

"The last thing we wanted for him was to slowly deteriorate and die a really uncomfortable death," she said.

Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) volunteer Shona Lorigan , who had been monitoring the seal's condition, confirmed to ABC News he 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."

Locals devastated to lose their 'pet'

In Rushcutters Bay Park, news of the seal's death came as a shock to locals who had come to consider the animal their own.

"It's quite devastating and I'm upset," Yasmin Taplin, who was fighting back tears, said.

"They shouldn't have bloody moved him … I don't know whether that's caused [his death]."

"I think the whole community has just loved having him here and have been very respectful of the fact that he's a wild animal.

"It's just been really lovely to see such a beautiful creature come so close to our home."

Ms Taplin, of Rushcutters Bay, said she had visited the park daily since the seal arrived.

"All the locals have come down and they're all looking out for him and they're all chatting about our little local pet friend."

"I think the park will be very different now. It will be very sad."

Graham Burrells, also of Rushcutters Bay, said the seal had become a neighbourhood favourite.

"We kind of hoped that he'd be a permanent attraction, so [it's] very sad," he said.

Alan Power said the seal had become part of the community.

"It's very sad," he said.

"I think a lot of people will miss having him around. He'll be sorely missed."

Toru Sasahara of Elizabeth Bay said he saw the seal banging its head against barricades in the water and he believed that could have caused the seal's eye injury.

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.

Sorry, this video has expired Sealvester, the Sydney seal sunbaking in late March at Ruschcutter's bay.

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.