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Raising and Releasing a Single Orphaned Harbour Seal Pup-A Case Report
Guido Dehnhardt1,2, Barbara Fölting2, Yvonne Krüger1,2
1Sensory & Cognitive Ecology Group, Department of Biosciences, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 3, 18059 Rostock, Germany.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|March 14, 2026
Summary
Human care can successfully rehabilitate orphaned seal pups, mitigating negative effects of maternal separation. This approach supports normal development and integration into wild populations without long-term human fixation.
Area of Science:
- Marine Mammal Science
- Animal Behavior
- Wildlife Rehabilitation
Background:
- Maternal separation in animals is a significant stressor with lasting negative impacts.
- Physical attention can mitigate the adverse effects of early life stress in animal offspring.
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