Seal with history of military service dies at the National Zoo

Selkie, a 43-year-old seal at Smithsonian’s National Zoo, died Thursday after several months of observation by veterinarians, who were monitoring growths in her abdomen as well as ongoing issues such as cataracts. Selkie was the oldest gray seal known to be under human care, and she also had a history of military service, having been trained by Navy staff to retrieve equipment from the ocean floor, use a screwdriver and manipulate a wheel valve.The Washington Post (tiered subscription model) (11/10)