Coordinates: 53°23′54″N 6°27′17″E / 53.39833°N 6.45472°E / 53.39833; 6.45472

Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre

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Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre
Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen
AbbreviationSRRC
Established21 December 1971; 52 years ago (1971-12-21)
FounderLenie 't Hart
Location
Websitewww.zeehondencentrum.nl/en/
Formerly called
  • Zeehondencrèche Pieterburen (until 2006; 2014–2016)
  • Zeehondencrèche Lenie 't Hart (2006–2014)

The Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre (SRRC; Dutch: Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen; lit. 'Pieterburen Seal Centre') is located in the village of Pieterburen in Groningen, the Netherlands. Until 2016, it was called a 'seal crèche' (zeehondencrèche),[1] because it had mainly cared for young orphaned pinnipeds before then. In recent years, sick and weakened seals of all ages are taken in for treatment and then released. The centre is committed to the management and conservation of the seal habitat, trains people to work with these marine mammals, conducts research, and provides education.[2]

In the winter of 2024, the SRRC is set to leave Pieterburen and will reopen in the spring of 2025 in the new Wadden Sea World Heritage Centre (Dutch: Werelderfgoedcentrum Waddenzee, WEC) in the harbour of Lauwersoog.[3][4]

History

In Pieterburen, pinnipeds have been cared for on the initiative of Lenie 't Hart since the first seal, a young male named Loeskus, arrived on 21 December 1971.[5] This was a continuation of the efforts of René and Anneke Wentzel, who had rehabilitated orphaned seals in the nearby village of Uithuizen since 1961.[6] In 1952, Gerrit de Haan and Annie de Haan-Langeveld had founded the first European seal sanctuary in De Koog as part of the Texels Museum, a venture that was later taken over by Ecomare.[7][8]

The SRRC, located at 't Hart's home, has been expanded several times. The current building was officially opened on 7 September 1978. VARA radio and television presenter Bert Garthoff [nl], known for hosting the popular radio programme Weer of geen weer, laid the foundation stone. He was asked to do so because he had been one of the first media personalities in the Netherlands to call attention to environmental issues through his work.[9] The centre has since evolved from a simple 'crèche' for young seals to a scientific research-based seal hospital, with accompanying facilities such as a quarantine area, a laboratory, a chemist, and modern research facilities.[9]

In 2006, the crèche was renamed 'Zeehondencrèche Lenie 't Hart'.

In 2014 Lenie 't Hart cut ties with the centre, because she refused to accept the new scientifically based policy on the treatment of injured seals and intervened continuously with the people working there.[10]

Activities

Hundreds of seals are cared for annually. The center rescues seals that have been injured by boats or fishing nets and those that have been sickened due to pollution. The center also rescues orphaned pups. All rehabilitated seals are released into the wild after their rehabilitation period, which lasts from several weeks to a maximum of six months. None of the animals remain in captivity and none of the seals are bred. The center also collects pieces of fishing nets that float in the sea and injure the animals. The center is open to visitors daily.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Zeehondencrèche heet voortaan zeehondencentrum". Dagblad van het Noorden (in Dutch). 1 July 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  2. ^ "About us". Zeehondencentrum.nl. Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Last year in Pieterburen". Zeehondencentrum.nl. Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Working hub of the Wadden". WEC-Waddenzee.nl. Wadden Sea World Heritage Centre Foundation. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  5. ^ "50 jaar geleden …". Leniethart.nl (in Dutch). Lenie 't Hart Fund Foundation. 26 December 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Hoe het begon". Leniethart.nl (in Dutch). Lenie 't Hart Fund Foundation. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  7. ^ "History seal sanctuary on Texel". Ecomare.nl. Ecomare. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  8. ^ "History of seals". Zeehondencentrum.nl. Seal Rehabilitation and Research Centre. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  9. ^ a b Hart, Pieter de (7 September 2019). "Deze dag: Bouw zeehondencrèche Pieterburen begint" (in Dutch). RTV Noord. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Personeel zeehondencrèche laat Lenie 't Hart zakken" (in Dutch). RTV Noord. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
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53°23′54″N 6°27′17″E / 53.39833°N 6.45472°E / 53.39833; 6.45472

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