Around 11 o’clock this morning, the NorthSeal Team received a report of a stranded seal on the beach in Koksijde. The animal had a rope around its neck with a plastic bag attached to it, but disappeared back into the sea and was spotted a little later on a sandbank. When the seal ended up on the beach a second time, the fire brigade was able to catch the animal. The seal has now been taken to Sea Life in Blankenberge for care.
According to the North Seal Team, an exceptional number of seals come to rest on our beaches. This year there are already 300. These are often gray seals that are born in Great Britain or the Netherlands between November and January and end up on our beaches a few months later. 95 percent return to the sea on their own after a few hours or a maximum of three days. The injured animals are being cared for at Sea Life in Blankenberge.
The NorthSealTeam emergency number is 0491 74 32 78 and is active 24/24 and 7/7. If you see a seal coming ashore, you can always contact the number. The team has a network of 130 volunteers spread across the entire Belgian coast. They are still looking for additional volunteers.
