Seal pup once rescued on a British beach hits the big 5-0. Sheba may be the oldest seal in captivity

Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — As gray seals go, Sheba is grayer than most. The grand dame of the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in England was celebrated Saturday for her 50th birthday, far surpassing the lifespan of a seal in the wild and possibly being the oldest in captivity. Things weren’t looking bright for the young pup when she was rescued from a Cornwall beach in September 1974 with a head injury. But she bounced back and even though she wasn’t well enough to be released, she is marking a half century and is the longest-living creature at the sanctuary.