Save 100 young seals on the Dutch coast

A Dutch rescue ship has rescued more than 100 young seals struck by storms on the northern Wadden coast.

>>>Seals may become extinct due to climate change

The director of Zeehondencreche seal rescue center, Lenie t'Hart said that 100 seals have raised the total number of seals being taken care of at the center to 365. She also said every year the center saved about 150 seals, among them a large number of young seals have very weak health.

Lenie t'Hart warned that the number of seals in the Netherlands is increasingly threatened, not only by storms in the Wadden Sea.

"In the past 2-3 years, we have regularly saved seals that are too weak to take care of ourselves," she told AFP.

'It could be due to overfishing as well as the fact that seals eat contaminated fish due to pollution'.

'The baby seals don't get enough food, because even in the protected areas, the amount of fish is getting smaller.'

Ms. Lenie t'Hart also said the center had to rely on oceanographic institutes to send experts to take care of seals, due to the large number of weak seals, especially those under 1 year old.

The Wadden Sea has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 2009 with biodiversity including saltwater swamps and long tidal flats and interlacing canals.

This coastline between Germany and the Netherlands, is a favorite spot for nature-loving travelers.