‘ve never had a Dutch, German and Danish scientists, so a lot of seals in the Wadden sea, as in recent years: 27.763. In total, there are more than 40,000 seals were estimated on the basis of it. They had 1 percent more animals than it is in 2018. However, fear of the experts is that the number is now dropping, as they say, in a conversation with NU.nl.

Then, in the nineteen-nineties, and zeros, by epidemics, very little of seals in the Wadden sea, had wanted to be the tourists like nothing better than to have a growing zeehondenbevolking. Now it’s threatening to the animals, however, become a victim of their own popularity. Sophie Brasseur, zeehondenonderzoeker in Wageningen, the Navy’s Research, it is in the Dutch Wadden sea, after a period of time of the long flowering period and after a period of time less well.

Brasseur, “Although the number of pups known as the light increases, the total number of harbour seals (of the type that have by far the most common, ed.). there are already five or so years, not increased, and in the last year, the number of the right people!” They expect this to be the case with the rest of the Wadden sea are likely to occur. “Why, we’re trying to investigate.” A marine ecologist, Geert Aarts, Wageningen Navy, and Research confirms, that the blockage.

the Wadden sea is becoming fuller, as ‘the aquarium’ < / p> it is expected that the cause was a combination of factors. Brasseur, compare the Wadden sea with a fish tank. “A fish tank is not small and when you have stones in the top, but the space available is less and less.”

this also applies to the area in the Dutch Wadden sea and adjacent North sea by, for instance, for new wind farms, more routes and increasing tourism and other related activities. “Since about the year 2000 is the coastal zone a long way. All in all, there will be less space for you.”

the Number of counted harbour seals in the entire Wadden sea area. Because in 2016 and in 2018 in the Netherlands is not on the specified days added, since there are no reliable data. (Source: Wadden Sea World Heritage site).

“a Lot of waddentoeristen want to be in summer, like the seals to see and a book with a zeehondensafari”, says Brasseur. In such a route takes the tourists close to the sandbanks where the seals are resting, and the pups may be nursed in. The ships are too close, then the animals are on the run.

There is ever a discussion about the ever-richer growing Sea, but Brasseur, fears that the seals will be there bekaaid of them. “If you look hard enough, you’re the voice you will hear when wadloop, power, and kajakvereniging, or a fisherman, or zeehondsafari operator, and pointed out that it has always been allowed to sail, then you still have permission to use.

Walkers puppies, hurt,

Too soon-strandwandelaars the seal population out of town. The common zeehondenpups during the first few weeks of their lives, with their mother, on the dry land, to give, for example, on the beach. They are disturbed, they may decide to enter the water.

Brasseur: “This is the puppy for one day and the milk is wrong, as that is only 24 days down, almost 5 percent of the milk. After twice missing, the pup is almost 10 percent of the time. So breeding animals that are not going to pick it up.”

After the weaning process, remains a little naive pup has left behind. “Who needs to discover for themselves what they are getting for the cost.” Also, in may, the walkers, the animal is disturbed.

Care is not a sustainable option. < / p> Brasseur is the ziekezeehondenopvang as Ecomare is not a sustainable solution to the zeehondensterfte. “There is a tension between a well-intentioned admirer of nature, and, as a population, can actually do harm.”

She goes on to say: “In the summer on a crowded beach on the island Texel, it is certainly very good, if a sick person the seal is removed. However, if the seals are on an empty beach, you may have to go, otherwise go for a walk with your dog in mind.”

Declining stocks

as Co-investigator All think about a possible link with the hustle and bustle in and around the Wadden sea. Further, he adds: “The future of the Wadden sea and in near-coastal area over the past thirty years, properly administered.” While the number of seals has increased, there are simply less fish to each seal. “If a seal is more than twice as long to get through the stomach to fill it, get it, it will probably be a lot more difficult. If it is, then, still upset, and be less efficient to fish, hunt, than it would be to just be able to be an animal, it just doesn’t deliver.”

The first international census of the common seal is found at the beginning of the summer, in the period in which the pups are born.