Wrongly named baby seal appears to extend a flipper in a gesture of forgiveness to keeper; millions express delight at scene online
A Japanese aquarist who accidentally named a baby seal wrongly in a post online and then bowed in apology to the animal, prompting it to extend its flipper in a gesture of apparent forgiveness, has gone viral.
The heartwarming moment has attracted more than 30 million viewers online, turning a minor mishap into a global sensation.
The touching story unfolded at the Joetsu Aquarium Umiagatari in Joetsu, Niigata prefecture, on the west coast of Japan’s Honshu Island, on July 19.
An unidentified aquarist shared a photo of a seal standing upright on its hind flippers, seemingly striking a pose.
