LONDON — As gray seals go, Sheba is grayer than most. The grand dame of the Cornish Seal Sanctuary was celebrated Saturday for her 50th birthday, far surpassing the lifespan of a seal in the wild and possibly being the oldest in captivity. "Reaching 50 is a huge milestone, not just for Sheba but for everyone here who has been part of her journey," said Tamara Cooper, curator at the facility in southwest England.
Sheba the seal at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, southwest England. Things weren't looking bright for the young pup when she was rescued from a Cornwall beach in September 1974. Ken Jones found Sheba with a head injury and nasty eye infection and took her home where he and his wife, Mary, rehabilitated seals in a pool.
As Sheba grew up, so did the rescue operation, moving from Jones' backyard to the Helford River in the village of Gweek and expanding to rehabilitate over 70 seal pups a year. Sheba's condition, including loss of vision, prevented her return to the sea. She's now outlasted all of the other creatures who have come and gone, making her a favorite fixture at the facility.
Her longevity is attributed to the care she's received and advances in veterinary medicine. Seals typically survive 25 to 30 years in the wild, Cooper said. Females in captivity can live to 40 while males live to about 30.
Based on its research, the sanctuary staff believes Sheba is the oldest seal in captivity, said Heather Green, an animal care specialist Spook, a male gray seal.