A seal pup that had been spotted roughly three weeks ago in Kapelle-op-den-Bos, in the Flemish region of Belgium, was finally rescued in Vilvoorde after making its way deep inland through the Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal. According to Belgian broadcaster VRT News, seals are often able to find their way back to the coast on their own, but this young animal continued to stray further towards the centre of the country, rather than returning to the sea.
The seal, estimated to be around two months old, is believed to have been separated from its parents. Its long journey was likely made more difficult after being disturbed by humans near the Belgian coast, prompting the pup to travel through the canal system towards Brussels.
On Saturday, the pup was discovered at Waterski Paradise in Vilvoorde, just north of Brussels. Helpers quickly seized the opportunity to rescue the animal. Staff at the recreation centre kept a close eye on the seal for about five hours, until volunteers were able to capture the young male. The pup was found to have a slight fever and was somewhat malnourished. Rescuers now hope to nurse the animal back to health at the Sea Life centre in Blankenberge before eventually releasing it back into the North Sea.
