On Vlieland, an island of the Dutch ‘Waddeneilanden,’ a hooded seal was born this Monday, the 27th of March. The hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) is an Arctic species commonly found around Svalbard, Greenland, Canada, and Iceland. This is the first time that the birth of this species has been registered in The Netherlands. The Dutch authorities closely monitor the situation since the pup might encounter difficulties keeping itself alive due to the lack of ice. Typically the mother gives birth on ice and leaves the pup after a few days. The pup licks the ice in the following days to keep itself hydrated.
For additional information, see the Dutch article on NOS.
