Rescued Seal Receives Aid in Kiel Harbor - Stranded and Injured Seal Rescued in Kiel
In Schleswig-Holstein, a new digital tool is helping to protect marine life. The Seal.App, designed for citizens to report injured or dead wild animals, including seals, has been instrumental in ensuring timely assistance for wildlife in distress.
Recently, a two- to three-week-old female seal pup was discovered injured on a dock in Kiel. The seal was found by local students and taken care of by seal hunter Peter Klink. Despite the Seal.App not being used in the rescue of this particular seal, it serves as an essential resource for reporting such incidents in the future.
To use the Seal.App, citizens are encouraged to download it onto their smartphones, fill in the details requested, such as the type of animal (seal), precise location (GPS or description), condition (injured), and any accompanying photos. The report is then submitted to the responsible authorities in Schleswig-Holstein.
Once the report is received, wildlife rescue teams may follow up, providing the necessary aid to the injured animals. This digital reporting method is part of the official response system in Schleswig-Holstein to ensure prompt assistance for wildlife such as seals in distress.
In addition to the Seal.App, citizens can also contact emergency wildlife helplines, such as the number 1540 for injured wild animals in the region. The National Park Administration in Tönning has reported over a thousand downloads of the Seal.App since its availability in October 2023.
Peter Klink, the seal hunter who took care of the injured seal pup, suspects the injury to be a bite wound. The seal is currently being rehabilitated at the Friedrichskoog seal station in the Dithmarschen district. Once rehabilitated, the seal will be released back into the Baltic Sea.
The Seal.App provides valuable information about marine mammals, making it an invaluable resource for those wishing to contribute to the protection and conservation of these creatures. By using the Seal.App, citizens of Schleswig-Holstein can play an active role in the welfare of the region's marine life.
The Community policy in Schleswig-Holstein includes the use of digital tools for environmental protection, such as the Seal.App, which encourages citizens to report injured or dead wild animals for prompt assistance. This digital reporting method is also a part of the official response system, contributing to the health and lifestyle of the region's wildlife, particularly marine species like seals, and promoting outdoor-living and home-and-garden activities that respect other aspects of the environment.
