DVM, Resident ECVP (European College of Veterinary Pathologists, board eligible) & within Stranding Research, investigating harbour seal pathology.
鈥淒espite their robust numbers, our understanding of the health status of the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) population in the Dutch Waddenzee is surprisingly limited. Understanding the health of these marine mammals is essential for assessing the overall ecosystem health and identifying potential threats to their survival. My research project aims to obtain a better understanding of anthropogenic and natural threats, and their implications, for the population of harbour seals in Dutch waters. There will be specific attention to the recent decline in population numbers, in order to determine underlying causes. Furthermore, particular attention will be directed towards lungworms, widely recognised pathogens in these species, with speculation suggesting their potential role as causative agents in the observed decline of this population.鈥�
Picture by Eva Schotanus