Watch the seal feeding moments
The seals are fed several times a day. Feeding usually takes place around 11:30 and 15:00, depending on the feeding schedule of the seals currently in our care.
Nutrition treatment plan
What a seal receives while in care is always determined by a vet. We call this a treatment plan. Feeding and medication is done by a seal caretaker.
Did you know that...
seals don't drink water? They get all the liquids they need from the fish they eat. Luckily, because seawater is far too salty to drink!
Salmon porridge in the Phase 1 enclosures
In the early stages of their stay, seals are given a porridge made of finely ground salmon. This contains essential fats, minerals and other nutrients. For severely weakened seals, this fish porridge is easier to digest than solid food. If additional moisture is needed, the porridge is diluted with water.
Administration of the fish porridge is by force-feeding. A soft, flexible tube is carefully inserted into the oesophagus, with a funnel at the end into which the porridge is poured. This is a quick way to feed the seals, which is important to minimise stress for the animals.
Herring
When seals switch to solid food, they are always given herring. This fish is nutritious, firm and has a suitable shape for force-feeding. By using only herring, we can accurately track the nutrients the seals ingest per kilo.
Learning to eat dead fish
It may seem that it is easy for seals to hunt dead fish, but in the wild they only hunt live prey. Therefore, they must first get used to eating dead herring. This learning process usually occurs in three stages:
- Force feeding
- Hand feeding
- Eating independently
Visit us and learn more
Wondering how we care for and feed the seals? Come along to the WEC and find out up close how we help these special animals gain strength. Our seal caretakers are on site to tell you all about the feeding and care the seals receive.
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