In the night of Saturday 30th to Sunday 31st of December, the strong wind and the propelling water caused danger to many newly born grey seal pups. Dozens of pups were washed off the (usually dry) ‘de Richel’ and ‘de Engelse Hoek’ sandbanks. During the first three weeks of their lives, grey seal babies have a thick white baby fur which enables them to swim. After three weeks the pups shed the baby fur and get their proper fur.
Reports of stranded pups came from Vlieland as well as Terschelling. The mother seals often tried to stay near their pups. If a mother was near, the twosome was observed and the area surrounding them was kept free of curious onlookers and (especially) dogs.
Pups that were alone were taken away after an observation period. This was how on Sunday the 31st of December alone, SRRC Lenie ‘t Hart received 14 young grey seals and four common seals. One of the grey seals was reported by our seal-first-aid team in the South Netherlands and was picked up from Stellendam. Organising the logistics in order to transport all the animals quickly and free of stress was a huge task in itself. However, all the animals have arrived safely and are now peacefully resting in quarantine, after having been fed their first fish meal.
Meanwhile, the seal-first-aid workers on the islands are back on standby: another storm has been forecasted and that does not bode well for the leftover mothers and pups.
31-12-2006 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
