Dear visitor!
Since September 2008, a total of 134 have been taken in ill. To compare: last year, during the same period, “only” 52 seals with the lungworm infection were admitted. The illness in itself is not new. However, with exception to the virus period of 2002, I have never seen so many sick seals come in before. In fact, we are only able to rehabilitate 80 seals at any given time. However, during the busiest period we had nearly 150! This is an awful lot. But the SRRC is never “full” because our philosophy is that every animal in need should be helped!
The sick seals all have a lungworm infection; I see it over and over. This is a paediatric disease that most seals usually grow out of during their first year. Pollution has affected the immune system in such a way that many seals are now having lasting problems. There might be more causes, such as a decrease of the number of small fish in the North Sea. SRRC scientists are now very busy doing research into this matter. In fact, a worrying increase in sick seals has also been seen in rehabilitation centres elsewhere in the world.
Every seal that is brought to us in need of help gets treated. We do our utmost to accomplish that. However, it does cost a lot of money and with so many seals, the costs are mounting up. Did you know, for instance, that rehabilitating one seal costs around € 5000? Therefore, we could really use your help. Will you help us? We do not receive any subsidies from the government and unfortunately we have been rejected by the Postcode Lottery again. We are entirely dependent on donations and gifts and we really need them now more than ever.
Lenie ‘t Hart
02-09-2009 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
