News
01-29-2010Busy...
When so many people are working under pressure, it is very important to keep a good atmosphere. Luckily, there is a lot of laughter and we are, for instance, very pleased with the cartoons of Toon (a Dutch cartoonist). We love them. Thanks Toon!
01-02-2010Twelvefold New Year’s dive
On the second of January no less than twelve recovered seals were released. It was a race who would reach the cold water first. Lenie ‘t Hart is glad that there are recovered animals that can be brought back to sea. “The sick animals retreat from the sea,” she says. “That is awful to see. But the most beautiful moment is when they hurry back to that sea healthy and well.
In the New Year we will continue saving the seals and we will join forces to find out what unknown additional factor has caused this seal-disaster to happen.
We will keep fighting for the seals’ and the Wadden Sea’s future!
Thanks to all who support us in our work and I wish you all very happy 2010!”12-08-2009SRRC happy with support from House of Representatives
The SRRC is very happy that the majority of the House of Representatives support parliament members Atsma (CDA) and Snijder-Hazelhoff (VVD)’s motion. It proposes to assist the SRRC’s scientists financially with their research into the possible causes of the current problems with lungworms. A disproportionate number of common seal pups born this year have been affected by the virus. Lenie ’t Hart: “Luckily, we already are given lots of support from the Dutch public. People donate towels or support us with a financial donation and volunteers are offering their services in great numbers. But that a majority in the House of Representatives support us is an enormous boost: it shows that the politicians have faith in our work and our scientists as well. That is an extra stimulant for us to help the seals in any way possible!”
12-03-2009Help the SRRC
As you have probably heard or read, we are taking in many sick seals. The SRRC is never ‘full’, because we would not let a sick seal fend for itself! Contrary to what our critics say, we do not receive any money from charity lotteries. Everyone who gives us money considers our work important. Now, however, we are facing big problems. We must buy fish for the large number of seals that have been brought in. Would you please help us? You can do this by donating money to giro 8020. Or you could become a regular supporter. You can sign up via this link. A small monthly donation would help us very much.
We are also looking for companies who are willing to help us in kind. Think of swimming pools, building materials, wood for fencing in the basins, plexiglass, sea containers for temporary accommodation, food for our volunteers, etc, etc.
Are there other ways in which you can help us? Please contact the SRRC on 0595 – 526526. Thanks so much for your support!12-03-2009180 portions of fishmeal a day
Lenie ’t Hart, vet Mostafa Shahi Ferdous and the team of seal carers hold their breath every time the phone rings. Not another report of a sick seal? In the last couple days six to eight sick seals have been brought to Pieterburen every day. Every animal deserves a chance; therefore, again and again, creative solutions have to be found to find more rehabilitation space. But all employees are worried about the alarming number of lungworm patients: Nearly 180 already, almost three times as many as last year, which then was already seen as the absolute depths in 38 years of seal rehabilitation. Read more
11-23-2009SRRC saves first baby grey seal ‘Southwester’
Today, this year’s first baby grey seal has been brought to the SRRC for rehabilitation. The pup, with its beautiful white baby fur, was found motherless on the Terschelling beach by our seal first aider, Hessel Wiegman. The seal has presumably been washed off the sandbank during the recent storm and has so lost its mother. The SRRC employees have given the seal the suitable name ‘Southwester’. The seal baby was immediately taken to the SRRC where he will now be given the necessary care. Of course, everybody is welcome to come and visit Southwester in Pieterburen.
Every year around this time, the first baby grey seals are born between Vlieland and Terschelling on the Engelsehoek ridge. A group of five baby seals had already been spotted on the sandbank. Because of their beautiful white baby fur, the young seals are unable to swim during the first three weeks of their lives. Grey seals have their young on sandbanks that stay permanently dry in the winter. The babies are nursed on the sandbanks until they moult and are able to seek out their own adventures. If, however, they are washed off the sandbank in those first vulnerable weeks by storms or high tides, they face great danger. The animals will drown or wash ashore in critically weakened state.
11-18-2009Akersloot school kids organise fabulous bottle collection drive
Today, Lenie ’t Hart visited the children in group six of the Sint Johannes school in Akersloot. Recently, these pupils had done their best to collect as much money as possible for the seals. Jenna, one of the girls, had visited the SRRC and inspired her class mates. When the children wrote Lenie a letter (click here) and two of them, Patrick and Thomas, came to Pieterburen to bring Lenie the money, she promised that she would come to Akersloot to tell them about the seals herself. It was a really fun visit. The children listened very carefully and had even prepared a song in the Groningen dialect. There was enthusiastic dancing and singing. The SRRC has gained many new seal ambassadors!
11-05-2009SRRC happy with new seal transporter
All seals at the SRRC have been picked up somewhere along the coast. Every year, that means travelling huge distances. Seeing as the SRRC has no money for better seal transport, we appealed to a number of very kind people who all chipped in and donated the money needed to buy the car. The remaining money was very kindly donated by Mercedes-Benz dealer Wensink in Heerenveen. Even the lettering was added at cost-price only. Today Lenie ‘t Hart was given the keys. Now the employees and the seals will be safely en route again!
11-03-2009Sick seals keep pouring in
It doesn’t stop: reports of critically ill seals crawling on the beaches. Today, November 3rd, no less than ten sick seals were brought to the SRRC in Pieterburen. Last weekend there were five. They are from Terschelling, Vlieland, Ameland, Schiermonnikoog and along the North Sea coast... That brings the number of severe lungworm patients to over one hundred. This is more than twice as many as over the same period last year, and even then we were getting worried about the increase. Read more 10-17-2009Lenie’s account of a “quiet” Saturday
The last couple of days we were inundated with sick seals. That meant extra busy times for the SRRC-employees in Pieterburen. But it also means extra busy times for the people working the field: the seal first-aiders, volunteers and many others. Indeed, behind every seal arriving in Pieterburen, a large logistic operation has already taken place. Are you interested what happens on such a Saturday?
Click here for Lenie ‘t Hart’s report.
10-14-2009Heart warming reactions
Fantastic, the way the Dutch population responds when help is needed for our seals. Within a minute of Lenie ’t Hart’s plea for bathtubs, towels, volunteers and money on Radio 538, she received a call from a man offering a Jacuzzi. From that moment on, the calls didn’t stop. Read more 
