Willem was found as an exhausted heap of misery weighing nine kilos on New Year’s Day in Vlieland. The young Ringed seal recovered quickly and, during the last couple of weeks, developed into a fierce rascal. Today the day had come: Willem was flown to gas and oil platform F3-FB-1 in a helicopter, from where he could begin his long journey of swimming back to his natural habitat in the Arctic Sea.
With a helicopter belonging to CHC-helicopters, which also transports crews to the platforms, Willem and a seal-carer were flown from Den Helder to gas and oil platform F3-FB-1, which is about 300 kilometres northwards in the North Sea. The travel basket was lowered from the platform to the water’s surface with a cable, easing Willem in the sea. The platform belongs to Gaz de France SUEZ E&P Nederland BV, a large French electricity company, but with a Dutch character and management.
Thanks to the fantastic cooperation of Gaz de France SUEZ and CHC-helicopters we were able to give this stray Ringed seal a second chance. From previous experience we know that strays can find their way back home from this position in the North Sea.
02-13-2009 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
