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Oldest seal at BAMZ dies aged 35

Royal Gazette
Thursday, August 30, 2018

Owain Johnston-Barnes

Published Aug 30, 2018 at 8:00 am (Updated Aug 30, 2018 at 8:00 am)

Long life: Charlotte outlived average harbour seal life span (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)

Long life: Charlotte outlived average harbour seal life span (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)

The oldest harbour seal at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo has died at the age of 35.

A Bermuda Zoological Society spokeswoman said the seal, named Charlotte, died of complications from cancer last Thursday.

The spokeswoman for the Flatts attraction added: “At the venerable age of 35, Charlotte was already beyond harbour seal life span of approximately 25 to 30 years when she began to show signs of illness.

“BAMZ staff actively treated her for several weeks before deciding to stop and keep her comfortable.

“She was active, eating small amounts and loved back and belly rubs from her keepers right up until the end.”

Charlotte was born in captivity in 1983 at the Huntsman Marine Lab of New Brunswick, Canada, and was the mother of two other seals at BAMZ, Ariel and Calico.