Rescue of Seals
Together, we can ensure that orphaned pups and injured Seals get a second chance at life in a clean, safe Wadden Sea. Will you join us?
Seals in The Netherlands
Ecomare on Texel (one of the islands in the Wadden Sea) rescues sick, wounded and orphaned Seals.
Donate to this project
100% of your gift goes to the project
The Wadden Sea is a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site and the natural habitat of both Common and Grey Seals. As apex predators in this ecosystem, Seals directly reflect the overall health of our seas.
Unfortunately, they frequently face significant challenges due to entanglement in fishing nets, marine pollution, disease, or prematurely losing their mothers.
Ecomare is located on the island of Texel in the Dutch Wadden Sea and rescues and rehabilitates those Seals.
Why the fund exists
100 Seals a year
Each year, Ecomare takes in approximately 100 young, sick, weakened, or injured seals. Once they have fully recovered, they are released back into the sea. The smallest and weakest seals stay in the quarantine units. These areas are specially designed to facilitate the seals' recovery; they feature underfloor heating, and, provided their condition allows, the animals have access to their own small pool.
The quarantine enclosures are kept relatively small because the animals need to conserve all their energy for recovery during this period. You can watch the animals being cared for through the glass. Once their condition improves, the seals are moved to the larger outdoor pools where they can swim, play and bask in the sun. All the seals need to do now is regain their strength so they can fend for themselves in the wild once more.
Seals at Ecomare
Ecomare is also home to harbor seals and grey seals that can no longer return to the sea. Most are very old, blind, or missing teeth. There are also a few younger animals that, due to various circumstances, cannot survive in the wild. They receive lifelong care at Ecomare.
We would love you to become involved
To guarantee the best possible care and recovery for these Seals, we raise donations for:
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Medical Care and Medication
Many rescued Seals need veterinary care when they are brought in, and during their rehabilitation period. Your donation funds their medication, vital supplements, and veterinary treatments.
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Buckets of Fish
The Seals eat kilograms of fish every day. We raise funds to secure the daily supply of these large quantities of food.
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Housing and Sanitation
Preventing cross-contamination between sick animals is important and regular scrubbing of the housing and pools is therefore a must. So is maintaining the water quality.
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Awareness Raising
Furthermore, your contribution helps Ecomare to raise awareness among the general public about the importance of conserving and protecting the Wadden Sea and the North Sea, by education, public outreach, and the rescue and rehabilitation of Seals and Birds.
Every contribution, large or small, is of great value to Ecomare and the animals. Good to know: Ecomare holds ANBI and CBF certification, so you can be confident your donation is being put to good use.
More about Ecomare
In addition to rescuing Seals, Ecomare also has a nature museum and a rescue center for birds. They aim to build public support for the conservation and restoration of natural and cultural heritage in the Wadden Sea region and the North Sea, with a particular focus on Texel. They pursue this goal through public information and education, as well as by rescuing and rehabilitating seals and birds.
At Ecomare's nature museum, you can discover everything about the Wadden Sea World Heritage site, the North Sea, and Texel. In the outdoor area, you can experience Seals and seabirds up close and you can witness the entire seal rehabilitation process firsthand.
Give to Seals in the Netherlands
100% of your donation goes to this project. We work for the foundation on an unpaid basis and cover bank charges and other overhead costs out of our own pockets.
