An adventurous Arctic bearded seal swam all the way from it’s natural habitat in the frigid waters north of Newfoundland to the warm waters in a canal in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
There’s no telling why the seal traveled so far. There’s speculation that it might have gotten caught up in a strong current. Although I find it difficult to believe that a strong current could have propelled the poor creature that far from home. There’s also speculation that it might have been following some prey. If that is the case than it was surely single minded in it’s attempt to capture it’s prey. Surely something would have distracted it from the clever prey in all the time and distance of the swim from Newfoundland.
Maybe the seal was just out for adventure. They say that seals are known to swim long distances. But Florida is not the place for ’snow birds’ to travel this time of year.
The seal was first seen swimming south on Thursday. It managed to steer clear of rescue attempts until Monday when it was rescued from the canal in Fort Lauderdale and taken to Sea World in an attempt to save it’s life.
It was thin, frail and dehydrated. It died on Tuesday at Sea World.
The News-Press
May 9th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
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