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Seal #1 |
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Seal #1 |
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Click on the logo from the homepage primary school De Wadden for the Dutch versions.
Klik op het logo van de homepage van basisschool De Wadden voor de Nederlandse versies.
History and adjustment of the Waddensea - seal.
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| In the North of Holland (the top), there you find the Waddensea. The Waddensea is a protected area between the main land and the Dutch islands. Along the coasts you find several seal sanctuaries. From North to South: Pieterburen, Ecomare (on island Texel), Dolfinarium and in the province Zeeland. One other interesting point: Netherlands is protected against the high sealevel by dunes and dikes. The red line shows what could happen if we have a dike burst... |
The seal is the only mammal who lives in The Waddensea. Millions of years ago it was a land animal. But they had to change their way of living and got used to life in sea. Other animals who had the same problems are: elephant seal, manatee, sea lion and other seals. Seals are animals who live near the coasts. The babies are born on land and there they also are fed. The natural enemies, polar bear and orca, are not present in De Waddensea. But the seal got a new enemy: the human.
For most of the newborn seals it takes 3-4 weeks before they lose their heavy, white pelt. They need that pelt for protection against the extreme colds. But it is important that the pelt doesn't become wet. Otherwise it can easily get pneumonia (and mostly die then). So, for that reason, the young seals stay at land.
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Birth of a seal |
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The seals of De Waddensea have a problem. They live on the sandbanks. And every 6 hours, the flood will stream over those banks. That's because De Waddensea is a tidal marsh. The newborn seals lose their white pelt before they were actually born. In the placenta of the seal, you will mostly find the white hair of the newborn seal.
When a seal in sea is asleep, it is in vertical position. It will take about 3 years before a newborn seal becomes mature.
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Visitors since January 2, 1998:
Last modified January 2, 1998
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