Seal sanctuary in Friedrichskoog - The first howling seal of the year can be heard in the breeding site.
The first seal pup of the season has arrived at the seal station in Germany's Friedrichskoog on a Tuesday. This adorable guy, named "Bosse", can now be viewed by visitors. According to Tanja Rosenberger, the manager of the seal station, when he learns to catch fish effectively and has gained enough weight, he'll be transferred to the release tank. Typically, this happens around 15-16 kilograms, but sometimes smaller seals weighing 12 kilograms are also released.
Upon successful rearing, the young seals are released back into the wild. They must weigh at least 25 kilograms before being set free, as mentioned by Rosenberger. "Bosse" currently weighs a bit over 10 kilograms. On average, the seals stay at the station for around two to three months.
"Bosse" was delivered to the station on May 14th, around a day or two after his birth. He still has some of the long embryonic fur (lanugo) which will completely disappear in the upcoming weeks. Preliminary examinations also revealed that the wounds he had were healing well. These injuries might have been caused by a dog.
More seals are expected to be brought to the station soon for rearing. There are currently three other seals in quarantine, and their progress has been satisfactory according to Rosenberger. "Bosse" will likely have company in the rearing tank in the coming days. There, he should gradually consume less seal milk and more fish to eat.
The seal breeding and nursery season in the National Park Wadden Sea is currently underway and will last till August. To avoid disturbing the wild seals, people should maintain a safe distance. In case of encountering a young seal alone in areas frequented by humans, such as beaches, the seal station, hunters, or police should be notified.
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The seal station in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, is known for its nature conservation efforts, as it cares for young seals before releasing them back into the wild in the Wadden Sea National Park.
Germany's Lower Saxony shares borders with Schleswig-Holstein, and the collaboration between seal sanctuaries in both regions aids in the preservation of seal populations.
Despite injuries potential threats from animals such as dogs, the seal station in Friedrichskoog provides vital care and rehabilitation for seals, ensuring their safe return to the wild.
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