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New York Aquarium News
Meet Spook, the Aquarium’s Living Legend
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Julie Larsen Maher©WCS
| At the age of 43, Spook the seal has not only outlived his relatives in the wild, who typically live to 30 years. He is the oldest grey seal on record in any zoo or aquarium! For this senior citizen among seals, however, retirement is not on the radar.
Born on January 13, 1965 here at the New York Aquarium, Spook began his life as a record breaker. He was the first grey seal ever born in an aquarium or zoo. Through the years, Spook has thrived, and today he receives special care from his trainer, Joanne Sottile, and the Aquarium staff.
Eight feet long and 750 pounds, Spook is a hefty fellow with the distinctive giant bending nose that characterizes all males of his species. Grey seals are sometimes called “horseheads” and their scientific name, Halichoerus grypus, is derived from Greek words meaning “hook-nosed sea pig.”
Spook’s trainers and caregivers have come up with unique ways to keep him happy and comfortable. Joanne scatters fish all around the pool and shores of Spook’s exhibit, hiding some inside his toys and freezing others inside blocks of ice like “fishcicles” for Spook to root out.
In the wild, grey seals fish for their meals by diving down to 475 feet, where they can stay for up to 20 minutes at a time. They use their bristly whiskers, called vibrassae, to locate fish in the murky sea. Joanne and the trainers simulate this hunt by tossing some live fish into Spook’s pool. Spook can detect their vibrations with his whiskers. This is not only a fun challenge, but good exercise, too!
Maintaining and monitoring this senior citizen’s health is particularly important. Spook has been trained to assist the Aquarium staff in his medical care. He comes out of the water when asked, and lies in different positions so he can be fully examined. When it is time for his preventative vaccinations, he remains perfectly still. During dental exams, he opens his mouth wide, allowing the caregivers to examine his teeth and gums.
Due to his advanced age, Spook has poor vision and needs regular eye drops. Joanne has guided him to accept routine care by giving him gentle pats. This helps him know what to expect.
Three hundred years ago, grey seals were nearly hunted to extinction as a source of oil. In the late 20th century, their plight worsened as fishermen found themselves competing with seals for the ocean’s shrinking supply of fish. Today it is estimated that about 300,000 grey seals survive in three areas, including the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean and the Baltic Sea. At the Aquarium, Spook remains an emissary for his wild relatives, having inspired generations of Aquarium visitors to support ocean conservation.
WCS Staff Photographer Julie Maher and Megan Maher contributed reporting.
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