Seal pup found at illegal Groningen rave undergoes emergency surgery
A newborn seal pup found last month during an illegal rave in a protected nature area in Groningen has undergone emergency surgery for a life-threatening navel hernia, according to Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen (Seal Center Pieterburen).
The young female, named Rave after the party where she was discovered, was operated on under full anesthesia after veterinarians determined the defect could not heal on its own. “In the case of Rave, the skin was still open and part of the omentum — tissue that holds the intestines in place — was protruding,” the center told RTL.
The operation, which is rare for such young pups, was considered critical because Rave was estimated to be only two to three weeks old, making her extremely vulnerable. “Luckily no intestines had come out, only the tissue,” the center reported. During surgery, the damaged portion of the omentum was removed and the healthy part was placed back inside the abdominal cavity.
“Because she is still so young, an operation can be very demanding,” head veterinarian Ana Rubio Garcia told RTL. “She is receiving medication to prevent infections and pain. We certainly hope she will recover completely.”
The pup was first discovered crawling between cars as police dismantled the illegal event in Lauwersoog. She still had her umbilical cord attached, suggesting she was born just before the disturbance. “It is incredibly sad that Rave, after such a bizarre start to life at an illegal party, now has to endure this,” said center spokesperson Hester de Vries. “We are enormously relieved the surgery went well and are doing everything possible to help her return healthy to the Wadden Sea.”
