I’m Aileen Romanowski, a cultural scientist and animal welfare journalist. I tell stories about animals, human-animal relationships, and ethical questions surrounding nature and the environment often through the lens of my camera, with heart and a philosophical perspective.

My photos are presented in their original, unedited form to maintain authenticity and capture the true essence of the natural world.

The pup clings tightly to its mother to nurse. Seals often appear amusing on land due to their body shape and movements, and people tend to anthropomorphize their behavior, comparing it to human mother-child interactions. This reveals fascinating social, nonverbal communication.

With this pup, I was able to get especially close. I was fascinated by its large, dark, gentle eyes, and there was a mutual curiosity and interest a true symbiosis. The only one displeased was the mother. She once loudly barked at me to keep my distance from her young, and I respectfully backed off. Yet, she never took her eyes off me. I believe my camera lens made her uneasy. Interestingly, the pup crawled after me.

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One might assume that harbor seals and grey seals have no natural predators like sharks or orcas around Helgoland. Unfortunately, fishing nets pose a major threat to these animals, often leading them into a painful death.

What fascinated me about these images was the contrast between the seals’ movements on land and their elegance in the water gliding smoothly and gracefully like mermaids.

This seal mother reminded me of how exhausting raising a pup can be, likely taking a toll on the animal’s own strength as well.

I have also written an article about my impressions of Helgoland you can find out more there. https://wildlife-stories.org/2025/03/23/helgoland/

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