Beloved Pacific Harbor Seal At Jenkinson's Aquarium Dies Of Cancer

POINT PLEASANT BEACH — It was the moment many of the employees at Jenkinson's Aquarium had dreaded, since they first learned that much-loved Seaquin, a popular Pacific Harbor seal had cancer.

Seaquin died on Wednesday morning, according to the Ocean Star.

Seaquin lived most of her of her life at Jenkinson's.

“The best part of my day was being able to go in and get a kiss or give her a kiss or give her some food,” said Aquarium Director Cindy Claus. “She would turn her head and acknowledge you. It was really the best part of my day.”

Seaquin was born on March 26, 1991 at Marine World Africa in Vallego, California, Seaquin was transferred to the newly opened Jenkinson’s Aquarium in 1992 as a companion for Luseal, another Pacific harbor seal who can still be seen at Jenkinson’s.

“We watched her grow,” Ms. Claus said of Seaquin. “We watched her come in as a pup when she was 11 months old and we’ve watched her grow and go through her whole life,” she said.

The void left by Seaquin's death will not be easy to fill, Claus said.

“She was a favorite,” she said. “I would say there were a lot of people who loved Seaquin. She was the most engaging of the two seals.She would come out for her feedings and she would come out to the glass and give kisses. We have so many pictures of children who have now grown up [posing] for pictures of her right up close to the glass.”

Members of the staff said Seaquin was able to establish a relationship with anyone who came to visit her.
It was that personality the allowed the aquarium to make her an ‘educational ambassador’ to help educate visitors about plastic pollution, marine debris, climate change and sustainable seafood.

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Photo: Courtesy of Jenkinson's Aquarium