Watch the life of gray seals from Vilsandi live

Do you want to see what the daily life of gray seals looks like in their natural habitat without leaving your home? Thanks to a webcam installed in Vilsandi National Park, you can follow these fascinating animals live – and without freezing on the winter Baltic coast! Now is the perfect time – in February, the first pups of the year were born, and under the watchful eyes of their mothers, they are beginning their adventure in the water. And if you’re lucky, you might even witness the birth of another pup.

Where can you find the seals?

The camera is located on the islet of Innarahu, which is part of Estonia’s Vilsandi National Park. This vast complex, situated west of Saaremaa, consists of over 160 islands and islets, creating a unique ecosystem. For more than a hundred years – since 1910, to be exact – it has been a sanctuary for wildlife, especially seabirds and gray seals. Innarahu stands out as a place where seals give birth to their young and rest after their winter migrations.

What will you see in the live stream?

Watching seals through the camera is a real treat for nature lovers. These Baltic giants reveal their habits: lazily lounging on the shore, playful scuffles in the group, or agile movements in the water, where they showcase their swimming prowess. However, the biggest attraction is the pups – their clumsy attempts at moving around and their first, cautious dives into the sea.

You can find the live stream here:

Gray seals – the stars of the Baltic

The gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) is the largest seal species in the Baltic Sea. Males can reach up to 3 meters in length and weigh 300 kg, while females are slightly smaller (up to 200 cm and 220 kg). They live at the boundary of land and water, and Vilsandi is an ideal place for them to rest and raise their young. Newborn pups, covered in white lanugo fur that protects them from the cold, are dependent on their mothers for the first few weeks. Their mothers’ fatty milk helps them grow rapidly. The camera allows viewers to observe these intimate moments up close without disturbing the animals’ peace.

Once, their population in the Baltic was on the verge of extinction, but thanks to conservation efforts – including in sanctuaries like Vilsandi – their numbers now range between 30,000 and 40,000 individuals and are gradually recovering.

Why should you follow the live stream?

Webcams like the one in Vilsandi are not just a window into the world of wildlife but also a valuable educational tool. It operates in real-time, giving scientists and enthusiasts the chance to observe seals in their natural environment. Now, during the breeding season, you can see how the young learn to navigate life – from their first movements on the beach to their tentative splashes in the water.

This is nature served on a platter – without the need to pack suitcases, buy tickets, or bundle up in winter coats!