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Lifespan, reproduction and description

A young, male hooded seal, stranded on the shores of Texel on August 31, 1996. This kind of seals normally live in the same regions as the harp-seals (on the coasts of Canada).

There are about 30 different species of seals. From the "normal"seals, there live around 300,000 across the whole world. Sea lions and pelt seals have ears at the outside of their body. The ears from the "real" seals like sea elephant are not visible. The seals are good swimmers. With their backfin they push themselves through the water, with the frontfins they steer. They eat small fish, seabirds, crab-fish and shrimp.

An average seal, swimming in the dark...

The seals have beautiful eyes, but they can't see well with them. Because their eyes are big, they can see lots of light under water. The seals are short sighted. So, when you want to approach a seal, move on like a seal, otherwise it will fled.
In spring the seals come on land to give birth to one newborn seal. The motherseal will take care for the newborn seal for about 4 weeks on the shores (beaches or rocks) or ice-floe. After about 3 years the newborn seal is mature. Seals live together in groups.
The average lifespan of a Waddensea-seal is about 10 years. It weights up to 90 kilos and the average length is around 180 cm.

Feeding seals in a seal sanctuary.

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Visitors since January 2, 1998: Last modified January 2, 1998

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