Photo: M. Dobas
Contact: Magdalena Melaniuk
More than 66 sick or orphaned seal pups have received special care in the seal hospital in Hel, Poland after being rescued on the Baltic coast. The young seals were picked up by WWF’s Blue Patrol volunteers.
The Blue Patrol has operated along the Baltic coast for ten years but has had to limit its operations since March due to Covid-19. The Baltic seals are born in late February and early March. So despite the lockdown, March and April is an intense time of activity for WWF. Volunteers continue to help seals while abiding by the regulations. This year 66 pups were found that were separated from their mothers. Animals in need of care and medical treatment are taken to a marine centre belonging to Gdańsk University’s Institute of Oceanography, which has a special seal facility.
Animals in need of care and medical treatment are taken to a marine centre by the Blue Patrol. Photo: Piotr Jaskółowski
Photo: Wojciech Czuchryta
Young and inexperienced seals face many challenges, including getting caught in fragments of old fishing nets or plastic waste. They can also be attacked by dogs that have been let off their leads by their owners. The pups are unable to defend themselves – their mothers on the other hand can deliver savage bites if need be. At least one pup was found with bite marks.
This article is part of the WWF Baltic Newsletter – May 2020
