Seal pup found at Groningen rave set for release after recovery from surgery

The seal that was found at an illegal rave in Borgsweer, Groningen, in June is now healthy and will be released into the sea. She will be released into the Wadden Sea on Saturday, according to the Seal Center Pieterburen, which is now based in Lauwersoog.

The seal was a newborn when police found her between parked cars at the rave as riot officers intervened. When she was found, she still had her umbilical cord attached, indicating that she was only 2 to 4 days old. According to the seal center, rave attendees had been walking around with the pup.

The pup, named Rave, not only had to undergo surgery for her navel hernia, but her condition also suddenly worsened when tissue began protruding through the abdominal wall at the site of the hernia. She was kept in the intensive care unit of the seal hospital in Lauwersoog, together with two other pups.

According to the Seal Center Pieterburen, visitors have recently been coming specifically to the facility to see the animal. This is possible due to the recent change in location to Lauwersoog. Visitors can now look behind the scenes in the seal hospitals, observe the work of caretakers, veterinarians, and volunteers, and learn about the Wadden Sea through interactive exhibits at the center.