Speaker 1: Yea. Hello everyone, and welcome to the Animal Tales podcast,
where you suggest the animal for us to write a
story about. My name's Josephine, and I've got a brand
new animal story here just for you. For a tiny fee,
you can listen to all the Animal Tales stories advert
free via our premium service, where you'll also get over
eighty premium only stories. Find out more in the text
that accompanies this episode. Jacqueline is from the USA and
she would like a story featuring a seal. You can
learn more about these creatures in the Animal Facts after
the story. Now settle back, relax, and I'll begin the
Seal of Maine. Jacqueline lived on a beach in Maine, USA.
She'd lived on that same beach for her entire life.
Granted that life wasn't a very long one, not yet,
as she was only a few months old. But Jacqueline
was happy. She liked her beach. She liked the rocks,
pieces of driftwood, and the soft sand. She didn't need
to go anywhere else. The beach was just right for her.
She gladly stay there forever, but few things last forever.
It will be time to leave soon, said her mother.
You seal pups are old enough to cope with the
ocean currants, and it's time you learn to fish for yourselves.
Jacqueline was devastated leave, but when she asked, tomorrow is
soon enough? Her mother replied The little seal, though really
did not want to go. She wanted to stay right
here on her beach, So Jacqueline decided to hide. If
they couldn't find her, then she and perhaps all of
the other seals would have to stay. And Jacqueline knew
of the perfect hiding spot beside a pier. The other
seals would never find her. There. Beside the pier was
a small white boat, and it was into this that
the little seal climbed, slipping beneath the lid of a
box near the boat's rear. The box was full of
beach towels, making it surprisingly comfy. Jacqueline was so cozy
that in no time her eyelids began to feel heavy.
She was asleep so deeply that she did not hear
the humans board the boat and sail it out onto
the wide open ocean. The first Jacqueline knew of it
was realizing that she felt hot. It was an unpleasant,
sticky sort of hot that she'd never felt before. Yawning,
Jacqueline pushed open the box lid and had the surprise
of her life. The beach was gone. The boat was
now moored alongside others more than she could count, and
there were humans everywhere, being loud and noisy, and somewhat
on her boat too. The poor little seal didn't recognize
anyone or anything. Alarmed, she slipped down the back of
the boat and into the murky salt water. She had
paddled at the sea shore, but had never properly swum before.
But luckily for Jacqueline, swimming came naturally. She swam beneath
the boats, urgently looking around her for signs of her beach.
She could see the ocean getting shallower before her, so
raced to the shore and hauled herself out of the water.
It was a beach, but not her beach. It was
very different to home. It was sunnier and warm, with
lots of fine golden sand. Humans wore less clothing, nothing
like the jackets and boots that she was used to seeing,
it was obvious she wasn't in Maine anymore. Excuse me,
Jacqueline said to a small scuttling crab. Where are we
near Houston? The crab replied, that's in Texas. My beach
is in Maine. Is that far from here? She asked,
far laughed the crab, Maine is a long way from here,
nearly two thousand miles. Two thousand, repeated Jacqueline quietly. How
will I get home? You're a seal, aren't you, said
the crab. You'll have to swim. Jacqueline gulped. What choice
did she have. She couldn't stay here in Texas. Her
mother and all the other seals would be worried about her.
She would just have to be careful, take it slow,
and follow the coastline until she saw her beach again.
Taking a deep breath, Jacqueline dived into the water and
began her journey. It was a very long swim. In time,
Jacqueline passed by Louisiana, where she saw an alligator on
the edge of a swamp. By the time she reached Florida,
there are people everywhere. She was constantly dodging boats, water skis, surfboards,
and divers, having to swim further out to sea to
avoid them. In the deeper water, a dark shape emerged
before her. Jacqueline's mother had warned her about sharks and orcas,
and for a moment she felt a chill of fear.
But as they drew closer, she saw that the strange
creature had a warm smile instead of sharp teeth. Hello, stranger,
said the man a tee. Are you lost? I am,
Jacqueline sniffled. I need to get to Maine, but I'm tired,
and there are too many people around here, and I'm
getting further and further out to sea. Don't worry, little one,
said the man tee, I can get you back on track.
The manatee sank down to the ocean floor, further from
the noise, joining a pod of similar looking creatures. They
were slow but steady, guiding the little seal back to
the coast. Jacqueline thought how similar to seals the manatees were.
They reminded her of home. Safely past the busy Florida beaches,
the manatees stopped to say farewell. I wish you could
take me all the way to Maine. Jacqueline said, we
prefer the warm water, said the friendly manatee. I'm afraid
this is as far as we go, but you've done well.
To get this far, you can make it, little seal.
Jacqueline thanked them and went on her way, but it
was still a long way to go Before she reached home.
A storm blew in as she was passing North Carolina.
The seas were high and the clouds dark. Sir Jacqueline
took shelter upon a beach for three days. On the
third night, she saw something splashing at the shoreline, pulling
itself on to the sand. It appeared to be struggling.
Sir Jacqueline went to help. It was a green turtle,
and she looked exhausted. Have you been battered by the storm,
Jacqueline asked a little smiled the turtle. I'm tired, but
I still need to get out of the water and
up the beach. Why Jacqueline asked, to lay my eggs,
The turtle explained. She sounded quite out of breath. Maybe
I can help, Jacqueline suggested. She shuffled behind the turtle
and began to push. With the seal's help, the turtle
managed to get a good distance across the sand, well
away from the water. How's this, asked Jacqueline. It's just right,
puffed the turtle. But now I need to dig a hole.
Two of us can make easy work of that, said
the seal, and began to use her flipper to scrape
away the sand. By morning, the turtle had laid and
buried her eggs. Even better, the storm had finally passed.
Thank you, the turtle said gratefully. That was much easier
with a friend. I'm glad I could help, said Jacqueline.
Seals don't lay eggs. I've never seen anything like that before.
The turtle laughed, then asked, is this your beach? No,
my beach is in Maine, said Jacqueline. I think I
may still have a long swim ahead of me. Then
perhaps I could keep you company for a while, smiled
the turtle. This was very welcome, and as they swam
they shared stories of the sea. Just before New York,
the turtle turned towards the deeper ocean and, with a
wave of her flipper, said good bye. Oh. Though Jacqueline
was sad to see her go, she sensed that she
was close home. Now the water was colder, and the
trees that grew upon the shore looked more familiar. All
Jacqueline could think about was her beach and curling up
alongside her mother. She swam on, and maybe it was
because she was so busy picturing home that she felt
to notice that she wasn't alone. A pod of killer
whales had silently crept up behind her. My my, what's
a little seal like you doing out here all on
your own? One of the orcas asked, Do you need help?
Asked another, We're very good at helping creatures in distress.
Jacqueline opened her mouth to reply, but something about the
glint in the orca's eyes, the way they were circling her,
and their wide, toothy grins made her hesitate. Are your
colony near by? Asked the first orca. We could guide
you there if you tell us where. Jacqueline didn't want
to do that. She was sure that she was in danger,
and if they followed her, so was her colony. I'm fine,
thank you, she said quickly. I don't need help. She
tried to swim faster, but the orcas kept pace with
her easily. It's no trouble, the second orca said, it's
a big, wide ocean full of nasty, hungry mouths. We'll
keep an eye on you until you're home. Jacqueline didn't
know what to do. There was no escaping the orcas.
She wished she had the manatees with her, or even
the turtle. Most of all, she wished she had her mother,
but she was all alone. One of the orcas moved
in closely, nudging her with his tail. Come on, pips Creak,
show us where all the juicy seals are hiding. Jacqueline
was on the edge of despair when quite unexpectedly, the
water around them erupted in fast moving shapes and splashing.
A group of dolphins had come to her rescue, using
their speed and strength to ram the orcas and filling
the water with bubbles to confuse them. There were too
many dolphins for the handful of orcas to cope with,
and so under a barrage of strikes, the orcas gave up.
There would be easier meals elsewhere. Now out of danger,
Jacqueline let out a shaky breath. Thank you, she said,
that was so scary. I didn't know what to do.
You did well to be so brave in front of
those predators, said one of the dolphins. But you were
lucky we came along when we did. Where are your
friends and family? Jacqueline told them her story and about
how she was trying to get home to Maine. At
the mention of her colony's beach, the dolphins perked up.
We know that beach, smiled a dolphin. The seals are
a sad bunch. I guess they must be missing you.
Jacqueline felt her heart sore. They were still on the beach.
She could see them again. The dolphins insisted on guiding
her the rest of the way. She wasn't nearly as
fast as they were, so her tail ached by the
time they slowed down. Not that she cared. Jacqueline just
wanted to be home. The dolphins swam with her into
the shallows before heading on their way. This left Jacqueline
to climb from the water and take in the sight
of the familiar beach. Jacqueline reached her mother as she
belly flopped across the wet sand. Is it really you, mum,
Jacqueline replied, Mum, I'm home. They rolled in the sand,
hugging one another tightly. Where have you been, her mother sobbed,
two thousand miles away? Jacqueline answered, and I swam all
the way home. The other seals had crowded round and
were all fascinated by Jacqueline's grand adventure. And all this
happened because you didn't want to leave this beach, said
her mother, with a shake of her head. I really
didn't want to go, Jacqueline admitted, But my journey took
me to so many interesting places, and I met so
many wonderful animals. Sure it was scary at times, but
I learned that most of the animals are just like me.
That it helps to be kind and to look out
for animals with big teeth. Her mum was looking at
her with wide eyes. I can't believe you did all that,
she laughed. And now you've come home wiser and braver,
she said. Perhaps we could all learn something from you.
But the question is do you still want to stay
on this beach? Jacqueline smiled, not all the time, she giggled. Not.
Now I know what's out there. And so the very
next day, the seal colony took to the ocean, and
this time they did it together. Animal fact. The seal
in our story is a gray seal, sometimes called the
Atlantic seal or the horsehead seal. Male gray seals can
reach over to meters that's seven and a half feet
in length, with females being slightly smaller. Mothers give birth
to a single pup covered in thick, soft fur, without
a covering of blubber like their parents have. They need
this fur to stay warm. Gray seals hunt for fish
such as cod, herring, and flatfish, but will also go
after lobsters and even octopus. Thank you for your suggestion, Jacqueline.
We hope that you all enjoyed the story. Wherever you're
listening in the world, don't forget to look at our
Animal Tales books over on Amazon Great bedtime reading, especially
if you've discovered the joy of reading for yourself. Make
sure you join us next time for another great animal tail.
Good Bye,