Kegel seals in the Wadden Sea: Record number surprises researchers!
Kegel seals in the Wadden Sea: Record number surprises researchers!
Helgoland, Deutschland - More and more gray seals live in the Wadden Sea. In the past five years, the number of these fascinating animals has increased by almost 10 percent annually. Current counts show that a total of 12,064 cone seals were recorded in 2024/2025, including 3,051 newborn animals. This has been the highest level since the beginning of the counts in 2008. A pleasant development, since compared to the previous year, there is an impressive growth of around 20 percent in the newborn cone seals.
What is gratifying for the cone seals is not reflected in the existence of the seals. Despite a constant birth rate, the total number of these animals has declined in recent years. Scientists are disagreed with what that could be. It remains unclear whether changing habitats, higher death rates or the rising gray seal population are responsible. As SPIEGEL ONLINE NOTE to get to the bottom of the matter and regional changes in the existence better understand. gratifying developments in the bowling seals
The growth in Schleswig-Holstein, where the cone seal population has increased by impressive 74.5 percent, are particularly striking. The Dutch and Lower Saxony Wadden Sea also recorded growth, while a decrease of 37 percent was determined at Helgoland. The census of the cone seals took place twice a year, during the birth season from November to January and spring in the fur change counts.
Inc-filtered data are used in the counts, which come from counting flights in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park. These records take place in May to July during the throwing times and in August to September for the change of hair. More detailed information on the existing situation is on the DetailsOrt Helgoland, Deutschland Quellen