Marine life centre Sea Life Blankenberge cared for 23 injured seals this year. The figure’s up eight on the year. Most of the seals suffered bite wounds. Half of the animals did not survive these injuries.
At the end of the year, Sea Life Blankenberge takes stock of the number of seals it cared for during the past year. 2023 was not a record year, but it was a busy one. "We provided care for 23 seals," explains chief zookeeper Jonathan Meul. "That's eight more than in 2022 but it’s not a record. There was one year when we had to take care of 39 seals."
"Most of the seals had bite wounds or infections. Half of the animals taken in died as a result of their injuries but twelve seals made a full recovery. Eleven of them have since been released back into the wilds. The only seal still being cared for will probably be released in January."
Danger to dogs and their owners
"Usually dogs are the culprits, but foxes and other seals can also be responsible. Only when an animal dies and there is an autopsy do we know for sure where the bite marks come from."
Meul takes this opportunity to appeal to dog owners. "Keep dogs on a leash on the beach," he says.
"It’s not really the dogs’ fault. They sometimes just want to play, but if the seal misinterprets such play, they may lash out. Seals can also pass on diseases when bitten, so there is also a risk to dog owners and the dogs themselves."
Help from the NorthSealTeam volunteers
Seals, who are just stranded, are less likely to be brought to the shelter in Blankenberge. "We work with the volunteers from the NorthSealTeam. If seals come onto the beach just to take a breather and do not appear to be injured, they are cordoned off and allowed to return to sea. Volunteers keep prying eyes at bay. This also relieves us to some extent."