First winter pup at the WEC: Dropje

“Last Thursday, November 6, I received a report about a pup on the Boschplaat of Terschelling,” says Emmy Venema, stranding coordinator at Seal Centre Pieterburen Foundation. “The first grey seal pups are usually born in early November on the sandbanks. However, it is very early in the season for us to actually have to take in an orphaned grey seal pup.” Dropje is the earliest grey seal pup taken in by Seal Centre Pieterburen since 2008.

Much lighter than average

Before Dropje was taken in, she was first observed for 24 hours, as agreed in the Seal Agreement between the three seal rescue centres in the Netherlands. During those first 24 hours, there is a good chance the mother will return. The seal pup is weighed by a seal warden at the beginning and end of this observation period. The fact that Dropje lost weight during this time shows that no mother came to feed her. The animal is still too young and too weak to survive on her own. She is only a few days old and weighs just 7.7 kilos, while grey seal pups normally weigh between 11 and 20 kilos at birth. In our seal hospital, she is now receiving the intensive care she needs to regain strength, with the goal of releasing her back into the Wadden Sea later on.

Grey seal pups are born with a soft white “lanugo” coat that keeps them warm during their first weeks. After a few days to at most three weeks, they shed this baby fur.

The name Dropje is a tribute to Dutch culture. This winter, the centre is using names that fit within this theme.

Visible to visitors and via livestream

Starting Wednesday, November 12, visitors to the WEC will be able to see seal pup Dropje in one of the centre’s intensive care enclosures, where they can watch her being cared for. Dropje is the first grey seal pup in the WEC. Her arrival highlights the importance of the new WEC as a place for education, nature conservation, and the professional care of seals.

In addition, Dropje will be viewable 24 hours a day via one of Seal Centre Pieterburen’s YouTube livestreams.

Focus on the Wadden Sea

The WEC in Lauwersoog takes visitors on a journey through the unique nature and culture of the UNESCO World Heritage Wadden Sea and focuses on a sustainable future for the region. Visitors can explore the Wadden Sea through an interactive experience with panoramic views, a visit to the new seal hospital, laboratories, and excursions through the extraordinary landscape.