Bingo was born on December 20^th  2010 at Helgoland. Sie was tagged with a green flipper tag and the number 539. In winter 2017 she was recognized among the other mother animals at the Dune of Helgoland. Most probably, that was her first pup, that she gave birth to and raised at Helgoland.

Eliza was born at Helgoland in winter 2012. On January 7th that year she was tagged with a green flipper tag number 705 into the right hind flipper. During spring 2014, she was recognized twice because of the tag number. After that she wasn’t seen for a long time. Only in winter 2018 was she identified by her individual fur pattern via Photo-ID. Like many other females she came back to her birthplace, to have a pup herself.

Emilias striking features are the big white spots on each side of her neck, on her otherwise dark and quite uniform fur. The first time, she was recognized was January 14^th 2005. But only in 2008, she had her first pup at the “Düne”. She might have already had pups elsewhere but since 2008 she regularly chooses the “Düne” to give birth and rear her pups. One of these pups was marked with a green flipper-tag with the number 517.

Raphaela already gave birth to least fife pups at the Düne. She always chose a place at the “Nordstrand Ost” close to the breakwaters. Two of her pups were marked with flipper-tags. In 2011 Raphaela had a female pup that was tagged with a green flipper-tag with the number 567. Her supposedly first pup was born in 2008 and got the flipper-tag number 407. This particular daughter was seen several times in spring. And we are curious, if she might have a pup herself at the Düne soon.

Bert was found as an orphaned pup on Sylt and subsequently admitted into the Seal Centre Friedrichskoog on December 18^th 2013. For identification purposes, he was tagged in his left rear flipper with a red tag with the number 1063.

He was released on February 2^nd 2014 and only few weeks later, on March 30^th 2014, sighted at Helgoland. Since then, he has been spotted there regularly, taking a rest on the Düne

Because of her very dark and uniform fur, Blacky could easily be mistaken as a male. However, a more thorough look at her reveals her many many spots that cover most of the otherwise typically light coloring of the fur. She was firstly seen in 2004 at a sandbank called “Jungnamensand” close to the Isle “Amrum” in the German Beight. In 2011 she gave birth to her first pup at the “Düne”.

Since 2004, Susi regularly visits the “Düne”. Not only can she be clearly identified by her coat pattern via Photo-ID but also because of her blinded right eye, which shimmers blueish-white. Howeer, for seals, blindess is not a big confinement, since under water, they meinly navigate through other senses. Susi already successfully gave birth and reared four pups at the “Düne”. Her first pup was marked with a green flipper-tag with the number 383.

Heidi has already had at least three pups at Helgoland. She prefers a spot at the South Beach, right between the big rocks of the moles, where her pup is always safe and sheltered.
She is also visiting Helgoland in spring for moult.
Heidi has got a pretty recognizable fur pattern. There is a particular eye-catching spot-formation on her left neck side, wich looks like a question mark. Even from a distance, this mark is easily spotted.

Mya was born in winter 2007 at the “Düne”. Since then she can be seen there fairly regular during winter and summer. Even though she got a green flipper tag with the number 316 in her left hind flipper, the tag number can hardly be recognized anymore. But her fur pattern is easily assessed via Photo-ID. When she was five years old, she had her first pup at the “Düne”.

Hildegard has an old scar, around her neck. Up until now, she was only seen in winter, whrer she already gave birth to five pups.

One of her daughters – Hermine- was recorded with a photo and was marked with a green flipper-tag with the number 516. Because of the tag and the photo, Hermine was clearly identified four years later.

Madame Pottine is known since 2008 and already had three pups at the “Düne”. She has got extraordinarily long claws on her front flippers which make it easy to identify her, even from a distance.

On December 6th 2010, Adelina was born at the “Nordstrand Ost” at the “Düne”. She was tagged with the flipper-tag with the number 558 into her right hind flipper. But already in this young age, her fur pattern was quite distinguishable, and she could be spotted and indetified from far away easily. The colour of the fur seemed almost bluish in the sun. Still, her shiny fur and the spots makes it easy to spot an re-identify her.

Victoria was born at the “Düne” on November 11^th 2010. She was marked with a flipper-tag with the number 497 into her right hind flipper.
On May 5^th2011 she was spotted at the “Düne”, being all tangled up in an fishing net. It was wound tightly around her neck, with no chances of being able to release herself. The “Seehundjäger” was called and acted quickly. He was able to free her. Now, only the big scar around her neck reminds of that life-threatening situation.
In winter 2006 she had her first pup at the “Düne”.

In November 2008, Almuth was born at the “Düne”. Back then, she could be marked with a flipper tag with the number 358 into her right hind flipper. When she was four years old, she gave birth to her first pup at the “Nordstrand”. She is a regular visitor iof the “Düne”. In winter bt also in summer, she can be seen there.

Nora was born at the “Düne” in 2005. She got a green flipper-tag in her left hind flipper wit the number 156. But now, her fur pattern is the best way to identify her, since the number on the tag has been wased off. In winter, the “Aade” is, where she can be found.

Carmen’s first sighting was on December 6^th  2008. It was not sure whether or not she had a pup at that time, or if she was only there to assess the breeding situation. It seems though, she liked it, since until now she at least had three pups at the “Düne”

Irma already had five pups at the Düne. The first three, she raised at the “Nordstrand West” directly at the entrance. But since winter 2012/13 she chose the “Südstrand”, supposedly because this spot is much more calm and less frequented by tourists passing by. Her fur is quite dark and at a first glimpse, she could be mistaken as a male. But her very petite facial features mark her as a female.

Dani herself was born in 2006 at the Düne. She could be marked with a flipper-tag with the number 186 into the left hind flipper. The number on the tag however is already unreadable. But her fur pattern is perfect to be recognized and re-identified via photo-ID.
Dani at least had one pup at the Düne.

Since her firts encounter in 19.01.2009, Lilo visits the Düne in summer and winter. She already hat three pups, of which one could be marked with a flipper-tag with the number 610 into its right hind flipper.

Linda was born in 2007 at the Isle Amrum! This could be determined by the number of her green flipper-tag with the number 203, which she got shortly after her birth. Like so many other seals, it seems she thinks of the Düne as the perfect place to give birth. She at least had two pups at Helgoland.

We know Thesi since December 2008 when she had her first pup at Helgoland. She is one of those mother animals, that like to go for a swim now and then, leaving their pups back at the beach for a short time. after a bath most times, the animalse get covered in sand, which makes identification via Photo-ID impossible. Thus we assume, Thesi has already had more than the three pups we certainly know about, but was just not identified.

Even though Horst might not be identified via Photo-ID because of his uniform fur pattern, you can easily recognize him because of his immense scar across his belly. Where exactly he got this scar from is unknown.
Eyewittnesses however reported him dragging himself on to the beach heavily bleeding. Noone was sure he would have a chance to survive. He was already quite enfeebled. Like many other injured animals (i.e. harbour seals with big skin lesions) it is supposed, that Horst intentionally came to Helgoland to find cure. The cause is an algae named Laminaria saccharina which is the strongest iodine collecting algae in the plant kingdom. The animals use this algae to support the healing of wounds. The “Düne” is used as a sanatorium.

Gladly somehow he managed to survive this major trauma. Now he visits the “Düne” mostly during winter, where he prefers the Aade beach.

Archibald can be found at the “Düne” during moult, most likely in May, but also in winter to find a mate. A scar on his left shoulder makes it easy to identify him. Unlikely most other males you can also identify him by his fur pattern. He has got several white spots around his neck. Most profoundly, a big white line right across the underside of the neck.

Kat was first spotted in winter 2016 by the Ranger of the Düne. Now she had her second pup at Helgoland. In the following years, we will keep an eye on her, if we will also see her in spring during moult.