The first white baby seal has been found this year on the island Vlieland. She has been named Willem I, after the seal first-aid worker who found her on the beach. The pup was surrounded by at least twenty seagulls. They had pecked at the baby seal, causing severe (and deep) injuries. She barely weighed 15 kg and still had her umbilical cord. Because it falls off four days after it is born, the umbilical cord can indicate the age of newly born animals. Willem I was transported from Vlieland to Harlingen with a speed boat. There, the seal ambulance brought her to Pieterburen. Fortunately she is now doing well, though she is still very hungry.
A seal pup that was found on Terschelling was not so lucky. It was found dead near the edge of the dunes. The animal had probably only lived a short while. When it was found, the gulls had already pecked its eyes out. The mother was still in the area, but was unable to do anything to help her young.
09-12-2006 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
