People travelling to Vlieland by ferry can see them from far on sandbank 'the Richel': dozens of seal mothers and their white pups. On December 30, SRRC workers counted as many as 90 young. Fortunately, the weather is mild so the young can spend enough time nursing. They do this for three weeks, after which they shed their white baby fur. The thick white fur which keeps them warm also keeps them from being able to swim well. After three weeks of nursing, they have grown from their birth weight of 12 kilos to 50 or 60 kilos and have to fend for themselves. A couple of grey seal pups have even been seen on the sandbank 'Griend' for the first time and we have even received a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality that a grey seal mother was seen on Rottum with a pup.
Just before Christmas there was an extremely high tide. Of the young that were washed off the sandbank some ended up at the SRRC. Here they can recover form their adventure. In three months they can return to the others in the Wadden Sea.
SRRC Lenie 't Hart-workers hope for
mild weather and wish everyone
lots of luck in 2008!
12-31-2007 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
