Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Lost ringed seal swimming near a sliding gate in De Kwakel, 23 June 2019
Lost ringed seal swimming near a sliding gate in De Kwakel, 23 June 2019 - Credit: Photo: Politie Aalsmeer Uithoorn/Facebook
Nature
Ringed Seal
Amsterdam
De Kwakel
Pieterburen
Amstel
Ij
Eerste Hulp bij Zeezogdieren
Monday, 24 June 2019 - 15:00
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Lost seal spotted swimming around Amsterdam

A new search effort was planned for Monday to find a seal that was apparently lost in inland waters, and trying to make its way back to the North Sea. Experts said it appeared to be a ringed seal native to the arctic waters near Norway.

Emergency services were alerted when the seal was seen swimming near a sliding gate on Sunday afternoon in De Kwakel, a small Noord-Holland village south of Schiphol Airport. After discussing the situation with the staff at the Sealcentre Pieterburen, a seal rescue and rehabilitation organization, the sluis was opened in the hope the animal would continue towards Uithoorn.

From there, experts predicted the seal could find the Amstel and the IJ river, eventually making its way out to sea. Some people in Amsterdam reported seeing the seal taking a rest around 6 p.m., according to newspaper AD.

An animal rescue volunteer team tried to reach the seal and provide aid in case it was too tired to continue on its journey, but the seal was gone before they arrived. They continued to look for the seal but called off the search when it became too dark outside.

The group, Eerste Hulp bij Zeezogdieren (EHBZ), was expected to continue the search on Monday.

“If necessary, we will catch it, lend a helping hand and bring it closer to the sea ourselves,” Sander van Dijk, a representative of EHBZ, told the newspaper. He said it is the third ringed seal to reach the Netherlands in the past six years.

There was also an additional concern for the arctic animal’s welfare considering the hot weather expected in the Netherlands this week.

P 2 DIER TE WATER , JAAGPAD DE KWAKEL ASM1 PMASM. Een vreemde vakantieganger stak zijn kop boven water in de Tolhuissluis. Er zwom een zeehond in de sluis welke misschien gevangen moest worden. In overleg met Pieterburen sluisdeur geopend en beestje zwom verder richting Uithoorn. pic.twitter.com/OMGvWJAO6r

— Kazerne Aalsmeer (@kazerneaalsmeer) June 23, 2019

Zeehond zwemt door de Amstel https://t.co/efFnxD7Yim
Normaal gesproken zwemt hij in het poolgebied bij Noorwegen, dus hij zal het wel warm hebben nu.. #Amsterdam #dieren pic.twitter.com/czG6JavQrq

— Matthijs Pontier 💜🌻🪂🏴‍☠️💚 (@Matthijs85) June 24, 2019

Zeehond maakt uitstapje naar Amsterdam en De Kwakel https://t.co/Fd9BpMU1OY pic.twitter.com/tDsrgXuhpL

— zeezoogdieren.org (@zeezoogdieren) June 24, 2019

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • NS running fewer trains this week due to staff shortages
  • Tractors on highways, blocking distribution centers in another day of farmers protests
  • Gov’t interpreters, translators to go on one-day strike to protest work conditions
  • Regional CDA members criticize Cabinet's nitrogen policy
  • Asylum seekers have to sleep on chairs in Ter Apel application center
  • F1: Max Verstappen finishes a disappointing 7th place in the British Grand Prix

Top stories

  • NS running fewer trains this week due to staff shortages
  • Tractors on highways, blocking distribution centers in another day of farmers protests
  • House fire in Waalwijk apartment sends 3 to hospital
  • NS presents new, fast intercity train
  • Logistics companies warn of delay due to farmers protest
  • Dutch Central Bank and province of Noord-Holland apologize for historic roles in slavery

© 2012-2022, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content