Pieterburen, July 10th 2009 – Many common seals will be born this season. Tourists in the Wadden Sea area may be able to see seals with their pups on the sandbanks at low tide. Because of the hard winds, heavy rain showers and high tides in recent days, chances are that baby seals have lost their mums. Therefore, the SRRC asks everyone to look out for seals in need of help. Mother seals are very caring and never abandon their babies. When you see a baby seal lying by itself on the dyke or beach making a crying sound, chances are that it has lost its mother. In such a case, it is best to contact the SRRC at once. Otherwise, these crying baby seals will slowly die of starvation. The SRRC already has 60 such animals in rehabilitation. However, their care is so expensive that the SRRC must do everything to make ends meet financially.
Endangered seals
The seals in the Wadden Sea use the sandbanks to rest and to nurse their pups. In bad weather and high tides they can get washed off the sandbanks and then there is the chance that they lose each other. The young seals are unable to survive without fatty mother milk. Lenie ‘t Hart: “If people see a seal in danger it is best that they contact the SRRC at once. Our voluntary seal first-aiders will then come to the rescue immediately. These animals are actually perfectly healthy, but do not stand a chance of survival without their mother. It takes about twelve agonising days for a seal to die from hunger and this is a terrible ordeal. As human beings, we should take on our responsibility and help such animals in need. Therefore, we gladly take on the rehabilitation of these babies. However, in doing so we are completely reliant on our supporters and visitors who pay for fish, water and medicines for the seals. We do not receive any subsidy, so I really hope there will be enough animal friends who are willing to help the seals!”
Rehabilitation at the SRRC
Luckily, the baby seals that are rehabilitated at the SRRC have a big chance of survival. They are survivors who have fought until they washed ashore along the coast and were found. Almost all of them will grow into healthy seals at the SRRC and will then be released back into the Wadden Sea. In the following months, dozens of seal babies will be looked after in Pieterburen. Everyone is welcome to come and visit the SRRC. Animal lovers, who would like to adopt a seal, become a supporter, or, make a donation, are naturally very welcome too. Donations can be made payable to Giro 8020.
07-10-2009 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
