BIRTHDAY TO TWO VERY SPECIAL NEW ENGLAND RESIDENTS. HALF SISTERS, HARBOR SEALS, AMELIA AND TRUMPET. CELEBRATING THEIR BIG 40TH. WELCOME TO THE CLUB. 40 IS A BIG MILESTONE BECAUSE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY IN THE WILD IS 25 YEARS. THE AQUARIUM SAYS AMELIA LIKES BOTTLING. THAT鈥橲 WHEN SEALS FLOAT WITH THEIR NOSE STICKING STRAIGHT UP OUT OF THE WATER AND TRUMPET LIKE SQUIDS SLEEPING UNDERWATER AND PAINTING. WHAT A WAY TO PASS THE TIME. HOW DO YOU SLEEP UNDERWATER IF YOU鈥橰E A BREATHING ANIMAL? HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THEM SLEEPING UNDERWATER AT THE AT THE AQUARIUM? NOT. NOT SLEEPING, I GUESS. YEAH. THEY CURLED UP TO A PILLOW AND. YEAH, THEY JUST KIND OF PULL A BLANKET OVER THEMSELVES. THEY JUST. YEAH. HERE鈥橲 THE THING. YOU KNOW, YOU鈥橰E PRETTY SPECIAL WHEN YOU SHARE YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH SEALS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. DOUG. HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
News We Love: Seals celebrate 40th birthdays at aquarium
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Updated: 9:27 PM CDT May 31, 2025
Happy birthday to half-sister Atlantic Harbor Seals Amelia and Trumpet are celebrating their 40th birthdays.The New England Aquarium threw a birthday party for seals Amelia and Trumpet on Wednesday, complete with handmade cards and a cake made of ice Jell-O and fish.Amelia, born on May 28, 1985, and Trumpet, whose birthday is June 7, 1985, were born and raised at the New England Aquarium and have become favorites of guests and passersby over the years thanks to their open-air exhibit just outside the aquarium鈥檚 entrance on Central Wharf.The two have surpassed harbor seals鈥� average lifespan of 25 years in the wild.Trumpet and Amelia are half-sisters, born to father Hoover and living in their 42,000-gallon habitat with Trumpet鈥檚 two children, Cayenne, 31, and Chacoda, 29, and Amelia鈥檚 brother, Reggae, 31.Amelia enjoys bottling, which is when seals float in the water with their nose sticking straight up, and she can usually be found sleeping in unusual positions.Trumpet loves squid, painting on a canvas and sleeping underwater."For the past 40 years, these amazing ladies have enthralled anyone who happened to walk by their exhibit. At any time of day or night, you can see visitors walking by the exhibit to see what the harbor seals are up to. The seals' personalities and the unique design of the exhibit draw people in to view these gregarious animals every day," said Patty Leonard, who has worked with the animals for 20 years.Aquarium trainers work closely with each individual harbor seal to build relationships and train each animal to participate in its own health care, including toothbrushing, eye checks, and regular blood draws.The seals give trainers and scientists the opportunity to engage in research studies, which provide insights into the larger population.
BOSTON — Happy birthday to half-sister Atlantic Harbor Seals Amelia and Trumpet are celebrating their 40th birthdays.
The New England Aquarium threw a birthday party for seals Amelia and Trumpet on Wednesday, complete with handmade cards and a cake made of ice Jell-O and fish.
Amelia, born on May 28, 1985, and Trumpet, whose birthday is June 7, 1985, were born and raised at the New England Aquarium and have become favorites of guests and passersby over the years thanks to their open-air exhibit just outside the aquarium鈥檚 entrance on Central Wharf.
The two have surpassed harbor seals鈥� average lifespan of 25 years in the wild.
Trumpet and Amelia are half-sisters, born to father Hoover and living in their 42,000-gallon habitat with Trumpet鈥檚 two children, Cayenne, 31, and Chacoda, 29, and Amelia鈥檚 brother, Reggae, 31.
Amelia enjoys bottling, which is when seals float in the water with their nose sticking straight up, and she can usually be found sleeping in unusual positions.
Trumpet loves squid, painting on a canvas and sleeping underwater.
"For the past 40 years, these amazing ladies have enthralled anyone who happened to walk by their exhibit. At any time of day or night, you can see visitors walking by the exhibit to see what the harbor seals are up to. The seals' personalities and the unique design of the exhibit draw people in to view these gregarious animals every day," said Patty Leonard, who has worked with the animals for 20 years.
Aquarium trainers work closely with each individual harbor seal to build relationships and train each animal to participate in its own health care, including toothbrushing, eye checks, and regular blood draws.
The seals give trainers and scientists the opportunity to engage in research studies, which provide insights into the larger population.
