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Sandy the Harbor Seal celebrating a big birthday at the Aquarium of Niagara

She was the first seal to have cataract surgery
Posted at 11:42 AM, Jul 28, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-29 07:16:07-04

NIAGARA FALLS, NY (WKBW-TV) — They are getting ready to celebrate a big birthday for Sandy the harbor seal at the Aquarium of Niagara. Sandy is going to be 40-years old.

Tammy Weber, Supervisor of Marine Mammals and Birds at the Aquarium says "Forty is old for a seal. They can get to that age but not in the wild. In the wild they can go until twenty-five to thirty years."

In 1987, Sandy was the first harbor seal to undergo cataract surgery. The story made national news. "That's a pretty big deal" according to Tammy, adding "It actually paved the way for other marine mammals to get that same surgery."

Sandy's birthday is August 1st. The staff at the Aquarium of Niagara is planning a special birthday cake for her made of ice and filled with her favorite treats which will include fish.

Masks and social distancing are being practiced at the Aquarium and they just unveiled a new sea lion show that was a year in the making.

You can get more information about the Aquarium of Niagara on Facebook and at their website.