NORWALK, CT — Rasal-dazzle! That’s what some Norwalk sports fans will hope to see during Sunday’s big game as the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers face off in Super Bowl LVIII.
Rasal of course is a 38-year-old harbor seal at the Maritime Aquarium. Each year, one of the aquarium’s seals chooses a winner ahead of the big game by retrieving one of two toy torpedos from their exhibit.
On Tuesday, Rasal picked up a red toy torpedo instead of a gold one, signifying her prediction that Kansas City will win out over San Francisco in Super Bowl LVIII.
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“Rasal’s pick is very exciting,” Trainer Marisa Miloro said to Patch. “We were unsure who she would pick this year. Obviously Kansas City was in the Super Bowl last year, so we weren’t sure if she’d go for the red [torpedo] again or be more enticed to go for the gold seeing as it’s a different color, so it is still a little surprising for her to pick the Chiefs.”
While Rasal has no inside information about the game, she did correctly pick the Chiefs to win last year’s Super Bowl, bringing her current record to 2-3. Overall, the aquarium’s seals have a 5-7 record.
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“Rasal, of course, shows off her great abilities once again,” Senior Trainer Dylan Salamone said to Patch. “These guys are such unique animals…and Rasal has been a staple of the aquarium for a long time. She’s our oldest seal and she’s just an incredible animal to work with, so it’s always fun to get to do this every year.”
In 2022, Rasal picked the Cincinnati Bengals to triumph over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI (they didn’t), and in 2019 she picked the New England Patriots to beat the Rams in Super Bowl LIII (they did).
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In 2020, Rasal chose the 49ers to win, however the team lost to the Chiefs by a score of 31-20. It is unclear if San Francisco’s previous loss to Kansas City factored into her decision Tuesday.
Rasal also picked the New England Patriots to win the big game back in 2012, however they ultimately lost to the New York Giants by a score of 21-17. Other seals at the aquarium have made picks in pervious years.
According to Miloro, making a Super Bowl prediction is not only fun for guests to watch, but also a stimulating activity for Rasal and the other seals.
“We would consider it a mentally stimulating behavior,” Miloro said, “so it may look fun to the guests, but it really gets our seals’ cognitive abilities flowing so their minds are always turning. They’re physically working to dive down like that, which is a natural behavior for them, so even though it’s fun for us and for our guests, it’s still a natural ability that we’re able to showcase to our guests.”
A resident of the Maritime Aquarium since 2005, Rasal is one of six harbor seals that live in the facility’s 160,000-gallon Pinniped Cove habitat.
Prior to her aquarium life, Rasal received training from the U.S. Navy, according to the aquarium.
“With how long Rasal’s been here and how many people connect with her, it’s really great to showcase how smart she is,” Salamone said. “Working with her can be such a treat. Rasal is a very engaged animal, and she’s very unique in the fact that she definitely understands what you’re working on. She’s great for newer trainers and she’s very challenging as well still for more experienced ones. She’s just such a well-rounded animal and she’s been a pleasure to work with.”
Do you think Rasal got it right this year? Who do you think will win Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday?
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