8.

This is the outdoor animal pool area where rehabilitation of seals continues. Seals from quarantine rooms are moved to larger pools to gain weight, become accustomed to water, develop swimming skills and get used to their fellow seals.

The final stage is the adaptation pool (2 m deep), where seals reach their target weight, feed themselves, develop muscle mass, practice swimming and diving, and learn social and competitive behaviours, including catching live fish. Human contact is kept to a minimum to encourage independence and survival instincts, while necessary checks, like weight measurements, are performed regularly. 

When seals reach 40–50 kg (grey seals), are healthy and show competitive behaviour, they are fitted with tracking sensors and transported in special boxes to the ship for release, away from the shore to avoid fishing nets.

A separate 2.5 m deep netted pool is used for scientific activities, where seabirds are observed and cared for, and their feeding habits and underwater skills are studied.

We believe that this experience at the Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Centre will inspire you to change in ways that will help to make the Baltic Sea a safer place.