If you still have a soft spot for rubber duckies, this adorable video might make your day. Reggae, a playful seal at the New England Aquarium in Boston, has completely fallen in love with his colorful toy ducks.
In the clip, the charming harbor seal can be seen floating around the water while gently holding and “petting” his rubber duck toys like they’re precious treasures. At one point, he even appears to guard them as if protecting them from an unseen threat.
Aquarium staff say the toys are part of Reggae’s enrichment program, designed to keep him mentally stimulated and active.
“The colorful toys are part of his enrichment, keeping him active, curious, and endlessly adorable,” the aquarium shared.
Viewers online quickly fell in love with the sweet moment. One commenter wrote, “This is the cutest thing I have seen in a very long time.”
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Another joked by quoting the famous Sesame Street song, writing, “Rubber Ducky, you’re the one,” while another fan chimed in, “You make seal time so much fun.”
Reggae may look like a playful youngster in the video, but he’s actually a senior member of the aquarium’s seal family. At 33 years old, he’s considered quite the grandpa by seal standards, yet he still enjoys playing and interacting with toys like a pup.
The New England Aquarium’s seals have a long history of capturing the public’s attention. In the 1980s, a seal named Hoover became famous around the world after reportedly learning to mimic human speech. Hoover could say phrases like “how are you?” and “come over here.” He passed away in 1985, but the legend of the talking seal still lives on.
Reggae, however, has his own way of entertaining visitors. Keepers say he enjoys games like fetch and other activities that help keep his mind sharp.
Harbor seals like Reggae can grow up to six feet long and weigh around 300 pounds. In the wild, they mainly eat fish and squid.
These marine mammals were once in serious decline due to pollution, boat traffic, and human interaction. Thanks to conservation efforts, including protections under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, harbor seal populations have rebounded and are now considered a conservation success story.
Visitors who want to see Reggae and his beloved rubber ducks in person can meet him during special animal encounters at the aquarium — and if they’re lucky, they might even catch him playing with his favorite toys.