Blue, a 21-year-old harbor seal, is believed to have contracted the virus through contact with a wild bird, zoo officials said.

Tests show bird flu caused the death of a 21-year-old harbor seal at a zoo in New Bedford, Massachusetts earlier this month. The Buttonwood Park Zoo said in a social media post that the "beloved" seal named Blue likely got the avian flu by coming into contact with an infected wild bird.

Buttonwood Park Zoo officials have confirmed that Blue, a 21-year-old harbor seal, died this month due to complications from the avian flu, or bird flu. Zoo officials say it's the second case of a death from avian flu at the zoo. A swan goose died at the zoo on Jan. 27.