Seal rolls into starring role

A SEAL at Deep Sea World is set to become an unlikely Japanese TV star.

A clip of Heather, a 12-year-old harbour seal, is to feature on Bucchigiri, a Japanese entertainment show which attracts an audience of more than five million people.

The YouTube video, which only lasts 11 seconds, shows the female seal barrel-rolling downhill into the water in her outdoor enclosure.

Since it was posted last year the video has been watched by more than 87,000 people – with many comments being posted from Japan.

Deep Sea World aquarist Michael Morris said: “People often video our seal talks and feeding demonstrations and, for some reason, this particular footage seems to have really struck a chord with people all over the world.”