Harbor porpoises rescued from shallow waters near Vlieland, now recovering in Harlingen
Two harbor porpoises rescued from shallow tidal waters near Vlieland are recovering at a rehabilitation center in Harlingen after becoming trapped on Wadden Sea mudflats and being unable to return to deeper water, KNRM, a volunteer organization that provides emergency maritime rescue services, reported.
The animals were spotted around 3 p.m. Thursday on the south side of Vlieland, near the Westerse Veld area, where they had become stuck in shallow water. Rescuers said the porpoises could not swim back to deeper water on their own.
The Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution launched the lifeboat Graaf van Bylandt to respond. After consultation with marine mammal rescue organization SOS Dolfijn, crews decided the weakened animals should be transported to the mainland for treatment.
In an update posted Friday on Instagram, SOS Dolfijn said the animals “got through their first night well” and had already eaten their first fish on their own.
Initial medical examinations showed the two animals are males. One measures 104 centimeters and weighs about 21 kilograms, while the other is larger at 116 centimeters and about 24 kilograms. The smaller porpoise has been named Jantje and the larger one Roelof, both named after the people who found them.
While awaiting the results of further medical tests, volunteers are supporting the animals around the clock, the organization said. Jantje and Roelof are “reasonably active, but still too weak to swim on their own,” making the coming days critical.
SOS Dolfijn noted that while multiple strandings can occur close together, two animals stranding at the same time is relatively uncommon.
Harbor porpoises can live alone but also form small groups, typically ranging from two to eight animals. Pairs often consist of a mother and calf, and sometimes a trio includes the previous year’s calf as well. Larger gatherings may occur when the animals hunt or migrate. The organization also thanked KNRM Vlieland for what it described as “the first aid and pleasant cooperation” during the rescue.
