On Texel you can visit the visitationcentre of the foundation Ecomare. This foundation educates people about sealife, specially the seas of the Waddenzee and the Noordzee. There are some great exhibitions and a large sea-aquarium.
But they also have programmes to help seals and other animals from the sea, they nurse sick animals back to health and if nesessary they shelter young animals who lost their mothers and who cannot return to the wild for the rest of their lives.
You can visit the seals and see them really upclose.
There are also two little whales at Ecomare, porpoises. These two lost their mothers when they were only a few weeks old, and this means they do not have the survivalskills to get back into the wild.
At Ecomare they take good care of these porpoises, called Dennis and Michael. Each day there is a public feeding and the public gets information about them. The training is not for the benefit of the public, although it is very cute to watch, but to provide Dennis and Michael with stimulation and entertainment.
It is difficult to get a good photograph of them, because they swim very quickly and they only come up for a moment to take a breath!
One important warning, if you see a whale or a porpoise on the beach, do not push it back to the sea. It is probably hurt or ill and it will not have the strength anymore to swim, so it will probably drown. Better to phone the emergency services and aks for their help.
More about Ecomare can be found HERE
But they also have programmes to help seals and other animals from the sea, they nurse sick animals back to health and if nesessary they shelter young animals who lost their mothers and who cannot return to the wild for the rest of their lives.
You can visit the seals and see them really upclose.
 |
| Snoozing seal |
 |
| This little one was in quarantine |
 |
| Swimming around |
There are also two little whales at Ecomare, porpoises. These two lost their mothers when they were only a few weeks old, and this means they do not have the survivalskills to get back into the wild.
At Ecomare they take good care of these porpoises, called Dennis and Michael. Each day there is a public feeding and the public gets information about them. The training is not for the benefit of the public, although it is very cute to watch, but to provide Dennis and Michael with stimulation and entertainment.
It is difficult to get a good photograph of them, because they swim very quickly and they only come up for a moment to take a breath!
One important warning, if you see a whale or a porpoise on the beach, do not push it back to the sea. It is probably hurt or ill and it will not have the strength anymore to swim, so it will probably drown. Better to phone the emergency services and aks for their help.
More about Ecomare can be found HERE
Good to see they are still around... I visited many years ago and was quite impressed with their work!
ReplyDeleteThey are definately still around and keep up their good work! I am glad foundations like these exist.
DeleteKind regards,
Seals are so cute!!! Good to know about not putting an injured animal back in the water. I see people do this all the time and I bet they think they’re doing a good thing.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think people think they are helping and it is not an illogical thought, but apparently it is not the right thing to do. I am glad I know this now!
DeleteKind regards,
Aquariums are the best...especially when you can watch cute seals and porpoises! Fun post. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I really like the seals and the porpoises are great fun, so cute!
DeleteKind regards,