Andre the Seal facts for kids
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Andre the Seal was a famous harbor seal who lived a very special life. He was born on May 16, 1961, and sadly passed away on July 19, 1986. Andre was found as a tiny pup near Robinson's Rock, an island in Penobscot Bay, Maine, in the United States. What made Andre so special was his amazing friendship with a man named Harry Goodridge.
Andre's Amazing Life
Harry Goodridge, who worked as a tree surgeon and was also the harbormaster in Rockport, Maine, adopted Andre when he was just a baby seal. Harry hoped that Andre would become his friend for scuba diving adventures. He also thought that Andre would eventually go back to living in the wild ocean when he was ready.
But Andre had other plans! Instead of leaving, Andre chose to stay with Harry and his family in Rockport. Their incredible friendship lasted for 25 years, until Andre's death in 1986. Andre became a beloved part of the Rockport community, and people loved watching him.
Andre's Fame and Story
Andre's unique story and his strong bond with Harry Goodridge became very famous. Their 25-year friendship was shared in many ways. Hundreds of news articles were written about them, and several books told their story.
Andre's life was even turned into a movie! A film called Andre was released by Paramount Pictures in 1994, showing their adventures. There was also a PBS documentary about them.
Andre was so loved that a special statue was made in his honor. The statue, created by Jane Wasey, stands in Rockport, Maine harbor, reminding everyone of the famous seal.
