Zoologists Vyacheslav Alekseev and Elena Andrievskaya have developed their own method of rehabilitation of gray seal and ringed seal puppies. Both of these species are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. The Center for the Study and Conservation of Marine Mammals is the only specialized site in Russia in the Baltic Sea where seals and ringed seals can receive veterinary care.

The cubs arrive at the Center exhausted, with severe lesions of lice and parasites, with hypothermia or vice versa, with overheating. And they cannot survive without human help.

Now the Foundation is in the midst of the so-called graduation season, when pinnipeds are released into the wild. The story of how the torpedo seal, as it was nicknamed by Fontanka journalists, sailed into the Gulf of Finland, spread all over the local media. A gray exhausted seal was found in the spring near the village of Peski, it needed serious treatment.

"At the release, the seal thought that everyone around was going to attack him. He looked around for a long time, then slowly got out of the cage and ran into the water, as we like, quickly and torpedo-like," Vyacheslav Alekseev and Elena Andrievskaya, the founders of the foundation, told reporters.

And there are a lot of such stories.  In June, they helped the world's smallest rescued seal, Ladoga, return to Lake Ladoga.

"The biggest problem of these animals is abnormally warm winters. They have to raise their offspring in snow-covered shelters for two months, but the ice melts, the cubs fight back and, if they are lucky, get to us," says Elena Andrievskaya.

"In 2014, we had about 200 dead animals in our region. And now they are dying. This is mainly due to fishing nets and as a result of poaching. The animals swim into the sea for fish, but they cannot come back out. The oxygen is running out, and they don't have enough time to figure out how to get out," Vyacheslav Alekseev, director of the Friends of the Baltic Seal Foundation, said in an interview.

According to him, the population of the Baltic ringed seal is rapidly declining: in forty years, two hundred of four thousand individuals have remained in the Gulf of Finland. That is why, almost 18 years ago, a biologist couple decided to take on the task of preserving this species.

"We sent our phone number to the Ministry of Emergency Situations so that they would call us if they found a seal. The information spread to the emergency services of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. Soon we took the first seal with a damaged fin to the dolphinarium, took the second one home and literally put it in its own bath. We were shocked at how emotional and intelligent this animal is, much smarter than ordinary pets. They have developed facial expressions, they understand human speech," Vyacheslav Alekseev continues.

Today, the Center for Assistance to Marine Mammals listed in the Red Book of Russia is the only one of its kind. Biologists work on donations, sponsors help. Since 2009, more than 160 rare seals have been released into the sea, and their survival rate has been more than 95%, which is one of the best indicators in the world.

The story of the lost children with a happy ending took place in June on the border of the Tyumen and Sverdlovsk regions. The brother and sister got lost in the taiga and could not find their way home on their own,  - writes KP Yekaterinburg.

12-year-old Grisha and 10-year-old Vika live in Tyumen. At the beginning of June, they were vacationing with their grandfather in the village, where the family has a summer cottage. In the evening they decided to go fishing, but got lost. After spending a day in the forest and trying to get out to people, they completely missed each other. When grandpa came out of the woods onto the road alone, he realized that the children had probably gone the other way.

Fortunately for the brother and sister, they had their faithful companions with them – a pair of young beagles. The Red Head and Rocky never left the children's side. Dogs have repeatedly beaten off children who disappeared in the Sverdlovsk forest from wolves.

Volunteers, security forces and rescuers were looking for children. More than 600 people were involved in the search. They managed to find the children only on June 8, and the children spent almost four days in the forest. It turned out that the children had gone far away, they were found in the forest of the Sloboda-Turinsky district of the Sverdlovsk region. One of the volunteers on an ATV broke away from the group and when leaving the forest and noticed the guys.

- Their legs were bitten, they were all dirty and hungry. There were two dogs with them," the volunteers say. - We gave them water to drink. They put the children on ATVs, then the dogs. The children were calm, thirsty, hungry. They were frozen and shaking.

The children told the rescuers that the dogs actively helped them survive. The guys were forced to drink water from the swamp and look for quail eggs. They told a story about how they slept with dogs at night to keep warm and how the dogs drove the wolves away from them several times," summed up the volunteer who saved the children.

- Our dogs treat us like their pack, - says Alfiya Shamsutdinova, the children's mother. – The Red Head and Rocky are from the same litter. Mom is a purebred beagle, but dad is a mongrel, and some kind of very big one. And our demigods are now very big too. And loyal.  They are essentially puppies yet, they are only six months old. We just wanted to get a dog, but when we were offered to choose one of these two, we couldn't resist. We took both of them.

Everything is fine with the children and dogs now, Alfiya says. They've been through stress, and nothing threatens their health. And she adds that if the Red Head and Rocky are nominated for the award "My affectionate and necessary animal", it will be an honor for the whole family. And the children will be very proud of their rescuers.

Photo from the personal archive of the Shamsutdinov family.

Dear friends, the organizing committee of the International Award "My affectionate and necessary animal" begins the selection of candidates for the sixth season.

We expect bright and interesting applications: stories about lesser brothers who taught us lessons of heroism, wisdom and selfless love. No less impressive stories about people who do not know how to betray and are sensitive to animals. And, of course, the organizing committee is looking forward to relevant and talented works for the international competition among the media and bloggers who talk about the relationship between a person and his younger brothers.

By your numerous requests, since this year all the Award nominations have received personal names.

The first, where the jury evaluates the resonant, truly human actions of animals, is called "Our Brothers".

The second nomination "Responsible for those", as before, awaits animal rights activists from all over the world, public figures and all those who show miracles of dedication and courage to save the world around us.

And the third nomination of our good project has officially been reformatted into the first International Competition for Russian-language media "with Pen and Heart".

In order to avoid confusion, please read the Regulations on the 2024 Award for Animals and Animal Rights Activists on our website before making applications (there is a separate application form for nominees). Also, study the Regulations governing the International Competition for Russian-language media "with Pen and Heart".

We would like to draw the special attention of the participants of the "with Pen and Heart" media contest: in accordance with the Regulations, publications are accepted only by e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Applications for participation in the International Award "My affectionate and necessary animal-2024" are accepted until January 15, 2025 inclusive.

The Organizing Committee has no doubt that the sixth season of our project will be no less vivid and touching than the previous ones. This, of course, depends on each of you!

The purpose of the award "My affectionate and necessary animal" is to express tribute to the heroes from among our lesser brothers who have committed acts worthy of respect or raised important topical issues in our society, as well as people who have distinguished themselves most in the protection of the animal world.

The partners of the Award are - the Union of Journalists of Russia, the NWFD Media Association, the government of the Kaliningrad Region, the administration of the Zelenogradsk Municipal District, hotel and entertainment center "the Paradox" , the Green CAT Eco-site, the BURO art group, Valta Pet Products, Tail News.

On Saturday, April 13, in Zelenogradsk, at the ecological site "Green Cat", took place the awarding of laureates and prize-winners of the fifth season of the International Award "My affectionate and necessary animal" among our younger brothers, as well as among animal rights activists.