43-Year-Old Seal Passes Away at National Zoo

WASHINGTON, DC — The Smithsonian National Zoo is in mourning after Selkie, a seal who came to the zoo in 1979 and who was trained to do jobs for the U.S. Navy before that, died at the age of 43.

Selkie was a real-life Navy seal, trained by Navy researchers when she was just 6 months old. She could perform underwater tasks like inserting and removing equipment, and using a screwdriver to turn a large wheel valve, according to a statement from the zoo.

She came to the zoo in 1979, where she lived until her death on Nov. 10.

"Over her lifetime, our senior gray seal contributed four offspring to the species survival plan," the zoo said.

Gray seals were hunted heavily in the 20th century, but the species has slowly started to rebound in recent decades. The 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act prevents harming or harassing seals.

Image via Smithsonian