Rare hooded seal pup born in Netherlands moved away from humans

Pup moved to remote location after discovery on Vlieland beach, far from usual Arctic habitat

A rare hooded seal pup born last week in the Netherlands has been moved to a more remote location to protect it from human contact.

The pup was born on Vlieland, one of the West Frisian islands in the Wadden Sea off the north coast of the Netherlands. Hooded seals usually give birth on pack ice, and are rare visitors to these southern latitudes. In the past 10 years, there have been just four records of the species on the islands. Pups are weaned after just four days – the shortest period of any mammal.