If you have fond memories of your rubber ducky, this video is for you. Reggae, a seal at New England Aquarium in Boston, absolutely loves his toys. In this amazing clip, we get to watch him float with them, pet them, and protect them (from what, we do not know).
The caption gives us a bit more, “The aquarium says the colorful toys are part of his enrichment, keeping him active, curious, and endlessly adorable.” Soo cute!
One commenter nailed it with, “This is the cutest thing I have ever seen for a very long time.” How could it get any better than a little seal petting his duckling? @Jimbo jumped in, “Rubber Ducky you’re the one,” quoting the Sesame Street song with @scarletOPenguin adding, “You make seal time so much fun! Rubber Ducky, I’m awfully fond of you!”
About the Atlantic Harbor seals at New England Aquarium
The seals at this aquarium became famous in the ’80s when Hoover the “talking” seal inhabited the exhibit. “Hoover could say several phrases, including ‘how are you?’ and ‘come over here.’ Hoover passed away in 1985, but his grandson Chacoda is now learning to say some phrases, as well,” the aquarium’s website explains.
This particular video, though, features a different beastie, Reggae. At 33 years old, he’s basically a grandpa, but is going strong. He loves to play fetch, which also keeps his brain active. Mental stimulation is vital for animals who live in zoos and aquariums.
These sleek mammals can weigh up to 300 pounds and measure six feet long. They eat predominantly fish and squid. When it comes to conservation initiatives, Harbor seals represent a huge success story. Oil spills, boats, and human interactions all contributed to their decline. Today, we can celebrate that they have achieved least concern status because of conservation efforts, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
If you have decided you must see Reggae in action, you can meet him during an Animal Encounter at the aquarium and maybe meet his ducky, too.
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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Mar 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.