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.

7.

In front of you are glass doors and walls separating us from the strict quarantine zone, accessible only to the centre’s staff or other authorised people with special permits.

Behind these doors are several premises: the animal admission area, where new arrivals undergo an initial examination, an operating room, a laboratory for necessary tests and six quarantine rooms – you can see one of them on your right.

Each quarantine room is completely isolated from the others and has its own heating and ventilation system, as well as video cameras for close monitoring of the animals (especially important during the first few days) and other essential equipment.

Typically, each room houses two to four seal pups, depending on factors such as their health condition and feeding skills.

Animals stay in quarantine for about three to four weeks (sometimes less) after their arrival at the rehabilitation centre. Once they have recovered and stabilised, they are moved to the outdoor pools for the next stages of rehabilitation.

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6.

In front of you is the room for preparation of food for animals, equipped with a fish freezer nearby. Here, thawed fish is processed as needed.

For newly arrived seal pups, a special fish mixture is prepared, as many have never tasted fish before and may not recognise it as food or be able to swallow it whole. The mixture contains fish, fish oil, beneficial bacteria, Rehydron (to restore salt balance) and enzymes (to break down fats). It is made rich and nutritious to resemble mother seal’s milk (containing about 40–50% fat). All ingredients are ground and blended until smooth, then fed to the pups through a tube.

During the first week, seals are fed 4–5 times a day with this fish mash. Later, they are given whole fish by hand using thick rubber gloves that protect against sharp teeth. As wild predators, seals may bite when stressed.

At this stage, the fish is gently placed into the seal’s mouth and throat to develop the swallowing reflex. Forced feeding usually doesn’t last long – most pups soon start eating on their own. Some skip this stage completely.

Finally, pups are given live fish (usually gobies) to learn hunting and feeding independently, as well as whole herrings to develop natural feeding and competitive behaviour.

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5.

This is the pool water filtration equipment room. Clean seawater from the museum’s reservoirs flows into the rehabilitation pools. After some time, the used water passes through these pipes into an automatic drum filter which removes fine particles. The self-cleaning filter rinses waste into the wastewater system.

The purified water then returns to reservoirs behind this wall. Pumps send it to the protein skimmer, where organic matter and sea foam are removed. Ozone from an ozonator helps break down impurities, and the decantation chamber neutralises any remaining ozone.

Finally, the water passes through sand filters, where harmful ammonia is converted into harmless nitrates. It then flows through an ultraviolet lamp which destroys pathogens and bacteria before the clean water returns to the outdoor pools.

All of this is done to maintain safe conditions for keeping animals at the Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Centre. 

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4.

The concept and content of the exposition were developed by the museum’s Education Department in collaboration with biologists Vaida Survilienė, Saulius Karalius and Arūnas Grušas. The visual design was created by the creative studio DADADA and implemented by UAB “Šmikis”.

The exposition aims to introduce visitors to the reasons why animals end up in this centre and to offer possible solutions for creating a safer, more sustainable and cleaner world. This idea is reflected in its title, “I change – sea changes.”

The exposition and its furniture were made from panels produced entirely from waste materials, packaging and microplastics collected from oceans and seas. The tabletops were manufactured from recycled yogurt containers, regenerated medical equipment no longer in use and similar materials. These panels were combined with plywood offcuts and tempered glass. Even the chairs in the centre are examples of reuse – old chairs have been given a second life simply by being reupholstered with a new fabric.

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3.

The socially responsible retail chain Lidl Lietuva contributes to the welfare of seal pups cared for at the Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Centre. The company runs the initiative “High Five for a Seal,” through which more than €200,000 has already been raised to support the Lithuanian Sea Museum’s Baltic grey seal rehabilitation programme. For every reusable shopping bag made from recycled plastic that is purchased, €0.05 is donated to the museum.

The funds raised have helped to save more than 100 seal pups, to purchase tracking transmitters that allow researchers monitor the animals’ behaviour in the sea and to reduce the amount of plastic waste.

Each year, around 20 or more young seals are cared for at the museum’s rehabilitation centre. The treatment of a single seal pup costs about €1,200.

Part of the funds are also allocated to scientific monitoring — the data gathered from transmitters help assess the success of seal rehabilitation and the state of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. Since the beginning of the project, more than 20 seals equipped with transmitters have been released back into the sea.

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2.

Grey seals give birth from late February to early March. They usually have one pup, and only rarely two. Gestation lasts about 11–11.5 months. Newborn pups are 40–75 cm long and weigh around 15 kg. The mother nurses her pup for 17–19 days, during which the pup can gain up to 30–40 kilograms.

At the beginning of March, the Lithuanian Sea Museum receives many calls about grey seal pups washed ashore. People dial 112 to report the location of the seal, its condition and other details that help staff of the museum or other institution reach the weakened animal and bring it to the rescue centre.

Upon arrival, the pups are taken to the animal reception area where biologists or veterinarians examine, clean and weigh them, and also plan further treatment or necessary operations. After the check-up, the animals are moved to the quarantine facilities.

On the wall (“Map of Seal Pups”), there is a stylised representation of the Baltic Sea coast showing the places where the seals were found. Nearby, you can see information boards with brief details about each pup.

What should you do?

• Don’t drive a seal back into the water.

• Don’t feed it.

• Don’t touch it.

• Keep the pup away from dogs and overly curious people. Let it rest.

• If possible, wait for specialists from the institutions mentioned above to arrive.

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1.

Welcome to the Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Centre (BSARC). The aim of this project is to help conserve the biological diversity of the Baltic Sea. To achieve this, we have created a system that meets the highest standards of modern science and animal care practice.

The main architectural concept is inspired by the idea of “walking through the dunes.” The buildings have a unique shape, and their roofs are designed to resemble coastal dune tops. The vegetation growing on the roofs is characteristic of the coastal zone. To minimise visual pollution, a large part of the Centre’s structure is built underground. As you follow the main path, you will be able to visit the public areas of the BSARC and view the open-air pools for birds and seals.

The BSARC’s multifunctional hall is used for educational purposes, such as seminars, conferences, events and learning activities that promote self-discovery and hands-on experiences.

In this part of the exposition (“Crossings”), you can explore two intersections showing how both global and local processes of environmental changes affect nature. Irresponsible consumption, pollution, various industries and inevitable climate as well as environmental shifts harm the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea and its coasts. Here, you can also discover possible solutions and sources of inspiration to help create a safer, more sustainable and cleaner world — for both animals and ourselves.

Please follow the information signs and stay on the designated paths, as many areas of the Rehabilitation Centre are restricted to protect the animals’ health. All facilities are divided into two zones for the staff:

1. Strict quarantine zone – accessible only to staff responsible for animal care and authorised personnel.
2. General zone – accessible to all other staff without special permission.

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