André the Seal with Harry Goodridge in 1974

André the Seal (May 16, 1961 – July 19, 1986)[1] was a male harbor seal pup found off the island of Robinson's Rock in Penobscot Bay, Maine, United States.[2]

Life

The seal was adopted by Harry Goodridge, who was then a tree surgeon and the Harbormaster of Rockport, Maine.[3][4] Harry raised the pup, hoping the seal would become his scuba diving companion, and expecting that the seal would eventually return to the wild when given the opportunity. Instead, André chose to stay with Harry in Rockport until his death in 1986.[3]

Depictions in media and art

André the Seal marker in Rockport, Maine near the statue

The multi-faceted story that developed over the course of their 25-year bond has been well-documented in hundreds of news articles, several books,[5] a 1994 feature film released by Paramount Pictures, and a PBS documentary.[3]

André's fame and popularity even resulted in a memorial statue by Jane Wasey being built in his honour in Rockport, Maine harbour in 1978. In 2018, the limestone statue underwent a $14,000 restoration of the face,[6] which had sustained numerous cracks. Legacy Rockport, a nonprofit, allocated $6,000 for the cause. The remaining funds came from private donors, including $2,500 from a local garden club. [7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ AP (21 July 1986). "Andre the Seal Dies in Maine; Delighted Tourists for Years". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  2. ↑ "25 Years with Andre the Seal | Yankee Magazine Classic". newengland.com. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  3. 1 2 3 Curtis, Abigail. "PBS documentary on Andre the Seal has host family reminiscing about special bond". Bangor Daily News. No. August 05, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Andre the Seal | Penobscot Bay History Online". www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org. Archived from the original on 2023-01-20. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  5. ↑ Goodridge, Harry; Dietz, Lew (1975). A seal called Andre. Praeger. ISBN 978-0-275-22000-6. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Maine Town Rallies To Save Statue Of Beloved Andre The Seal". MainePublic.org. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  7. ↑ "Andre the Seal Statue, Rockport, Maine". RoadsideAmerica.com. Retrieved 2018-07-03.


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