A young seal that had been swimming around in the Brussels Scheldt Maritime Canal for weeks has been caught. It is not uncommon for seals to end up in our waterways, but this pup had already ventured deep inland. Sadly, the seal had repeatedly been disturbed by humans. “Some people simply lay down next to it or stroked the animal,” an incredulous Frank Durinckx of the NorthSealTeam told VRT.
Seal pup caught in Vilvoorde after weeks-long journey up Brussels Scheldt Maritime Canal
Colin Clapson
Published:
The animal had been on the NorthSealTeam’s radar for some time; the NorthSealTeam is a voluntary organisation that protects seals along the Belgian coast. The animal was first spotted three weeks ago in Kapelle-op-den-Bos (Flemish Brabant Province). From there, the pup continued its journey towards the town of Vilvoorde.
Normally, that isn’t a problem. “Seals can survive in fresh water for a while and often find their own way back to the sea,” says Durinckx. “This animal, however, was already quite far inland. What’s more, it was constantly being disturbed by humans, which put both the seal and the onlookers at risk.”
Touching seals is a risky business
People were getting very close to the animal. “The seal was even lifted up so that people could take photos. Some people simply lay down next to it, and children started stroking the animal.” The animals may look cute but touching them is not without risk. “Seals can bite quite hard and carry bacteria that can cause infections.”
Keeping watch with a glass of wine
On Saturday, the animal turned up at the Waterski Paradise in Vilvoorde (Flemish Brabant). Following contact between the NorthSealTeam and the Sea Life Blankenberge seal rescue centre, it was decided they would come and collect the animal. The members of the water ski team kept watch over the animal in the meantime. “From a distance they kept an eye on the critter for about five hours, with a glass of wine. Everyone understood that the animal needed rest.”
The pup has a slight fever and is a bit underweight. Staff at the rescue centre in Blankenberge are looking after it, with a view to releasing it back into the North Sea.