Abandoned seals returned to wild

A young seal named "Helene" peaks out from a basket at the the Seehundstation Norddeich facility near Norddeich, Germany, Aug. 14, 2013.

The Seehundstation Norddeich is a facility for raising young seals who were separated from their mothers due to storms, disease or human disturbance and who would otherwise have little chance of survival.

Tim Fetting from the Seehundstation Norddeich watches a young seal named "Bruno" on the beach of the Juist islands, near Norddeich, Germany, Aug. 14, 2013.

Volunteers collect about 90 young seals a year from the North Sea German coast and care for the pups until they weigh about 25 kg, before releasing them back into the wild. Sponsors pay for the costs of caring for the seals and get to name them.

Young seals lying face to face in the Seehundstation, Aug. 14, 2013.

A visitor to the Seehundstation Norddeich takes a picture of a young seal swimming in the Seehundstation, Aug. 14, 2013.

A young seal looks out from a basket on the beach of Juist island, near Norddeich, Germany, Aug. 14, 2013.

Tim Fetting, left, and Peter Lienau, right, from the Seehundstation Norddeich release young seals on the beach, Aug. 14, 2013.

Zookeeper Jan prepares herring for young seals in the Seehundstation Norddeich, Aug. 14, 2013.

Young seals look out from their baskets on the beach, Aug. 14, 2013.

A young seal swims at the Seehundstation Norddeich, Aug. 14, 2013.

A young seal named "Bruno" looks out from his basket, Aug. 14, 2013.

Young seals swim in the Seehundstation Norddeich, Aug. 14, 2013.

Children look at gifts in the souvenir shop of the Seehundstation Norddeich, Aug. 14, 2013.

A young seals swims around Juist island, Aug. 14, 2013.

Young seals feed on herrings in the Seehundstation Norddeich, Aug. 14, 2013.

Peter Lienau, managing director of the Seehundstation Norddeich, moves baskets of young seals at the Harbour of Norddeich, Aug. 14, 2013.

Zookeeper Ramona feeds herring to young seals in the Seehundstation, Aug. 14, 2013.

Mugs for sale in the souvenir shop of the Seehundstation Norddeich, Aug. 14, 2013.

Three young seals released on the the beach of Juist island, Aug. 14, 2013.

Peter Lienau, left, managing director of the Seehundstation Norddeich and Elke Schneider, right, carry a basket with a young seal at the the beach, Aug. 14, 2013.

Two young seals lying on the the beach, Aug. 14, 2013.

A young seal swims in the Seehundstation Norddeich, Aug. 14, 2013.

Zookeeper Tim puts a young seal in a basket at the Seehundstation Norddeich, Aug. 14, 2013.

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