Kroshik the Seal Returns to Lake Ladoga: The Story of a Beloved Rescue (11 photos)

For ten long years, Kroshik the Ladoga ringed seal—the most famous rescue of the Friends of the Baltic Seal Foundation—refused to leave human company. Twice released into the wild, he came back both times. Biologists patiently waited for his natural instincts to kick in. On September 4, 2026, Kroshik didn't return from his nightly swim; satellite tracking revealed he had ventured deep into the open waters of Lake Ladoga. Here is his incredible story—from a chance rescue on a riverbank to an empty floating enclosure on the lake.





March 25, 2016: A Fisherman and a Four-Kilogram Pup

Near the village of Sviritsa in the Volkhov District of Leningrad Region, a fisherman spotted a tiny seal pup on the shores of Lake Ladoga. The Ladoga ringed seal pup weighed just four kilograms—less than a human newborn. His lower body and flippers were severely frostbitten.

Volunteers from the Friends of the Baltic Seal Foundation brought him to the Marine Mammal Research and Conservation Center in Repino, near St. Petersburg. Kroshik turned out to be the smallest patient in the foundation's history. Despite his ordeal, the little pup was surprisingly brave—showing no fear of humans and eagerly climbing into the arms of the staff.



Kroshik during his early days of rehabilitation: a tiny 4 kg pup destined to become a St. Petersburg celebrity.

The Ladoga ringed seal is a rare endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. This subspecies became isolated in Lake Ladoga roughly 10,000 years ago following the last ice age. According to an aerial survey conducted in 2012, the lake's population stands at around 6,500 individuals.

Summer 2016: The First Release Attempt

Following his recovery, biologists transported Kroshik back to Lake Ladoga. He was released near Valaam Island alongside other rescued pups. But for the first time in the foundation's history, a seal refused to return to the wild: Kroshik swam around for 15 minutes and promptly returned to his human caretakers.





First release attempt on Lake Ladoga in 2016: Kroshik swam for 15 minutes before turning back. It was the first time a seal had refused to leave the foundation's care.

The staff decided on a deliberate approach: for nearly a year, they strictly minimized interaction with the seal to prevent him from forming human attachments. Kroshik didn't seem to mind.

At the same time, they began training Kroshik to follow simple commands—not for show, but for medical monitoring. A seal trained to cooperate during checkups can undergo veterinary procedures without needing anesthesia.

2017: Three Weeks in the Wild

In the spring of 2017, Kroshik was released a second time. This time, he actually swam off. For three weeks, reports poured in from various spots around Lake Ladoga with the exact same story: an unusually friendly seal was approaching beachgoers, trying to climb onto fishing boats, and hanging around tourists.



Second release in 2017: Kroshik spent his three weeks in the wild socializing with fishermen and tourists.

Eventually, someone called the foundation from the shore: "Come pick up your seal." Kroshik was brought back to the center.

From then on, the team pinned their hopes on maturity. Ladoga seals reach sexual maturity at around 6 to 7 years old. Biologists believed that once he matured, his desire to mate and join other seals would outweigh his affinity for humans.

2017–2020: Life at the Center and Viral Stardom

Kroshik settled into life in Repino. Videos of his antics pulled in millions of views—showing him marveling at the first snowfall, "sunbathing" under heat lamps, and rolling over for belly rubs.



Training sessions at the center: the commands weren't for entertainment, but to allow stress-free checkups by veterinarians.

In 2020, filmmaker Vladimir Marin directed a documentary about the foundation titled

A Short Guide to Raising Seals

, starring Kroshik. The film premiered at the 17th "Radiant Angel" International Charity Film Festival in November 2020, produced with support from the Russian Ministry of Culture and the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology.



A still from Vladimir Marin's 2020 documentary about the foundation and Kroshik the seal.

March 2020: Enter Shlissik

In March 2020, local residents found an abandoned seal pup stranded on an ice floe and alerted the foundation. The pup was rescued and brought to the center, named Shlissik after his hometown of Shlisselburg.



Kroshik and Shlissik became neighbors in the spring of 2020. They were total opposites in personality: Kroshik remained placid and calm, while Shlissik was a relentless troublemaker.

Shlissik turned out to be Kroshik's complete polar opposite. Staff members recall that the newcomer was constantly causing trouble, splashing water, and trying to pick fights. Kroshik, according to biologists, was thoroughly bewildered.

When his time came to be released, Shlissik also refused to return to the wild. The foundation now had a second resident star.

2025: A Floating Enclosure on Lake Ladoga

The foundation tried a new strategy. Kroshik was moved to Lake Ladoga and placed in a custom floating enclosure right on the lake. The submerged portion was initially enclosed with netting so the seal could acclimate gradually.



The floating enclosure on Lake Ladoga in 2025: Kroshik quickly settled in, taking a keen interest in the waves, fish, and passing boats.

Kroshik took to it immediately. He explored the waves, watched passing boats, and hunted for fish. When autumn storms arrived, the enclosure was brought back to Repino for the winter. Staff noticed a promising change: Kroshik had become noticeably less social and approached humans far less frequently—a very encouraging sign.

August 2026: A Satellite Tracker and an Open Door

In August 2026, the foundation was releasing another batch of rehabilitated seals into Lake Ladoga. They fitted Kroshik with a satellite transmitter—just in case he decided to venture out. Then, they left the enclosure door unlocked.



August 2026: The enclosure door left open, with a satellite transmitter attached. Kroshik began swimming off at night and returning by morning.

For several weeks, Kroshik would swim out at night and return at dawn, well-fed. Foundation co-founders Elena Andrievskaya and Vyacheslav Alekseyev explained that their prior experience working with trained marine animals in open waters was crucial in executing the release process seamlessly.

September 4, 2026: An Empty Enclosure

On the morning of September 4, 2026, Kroshik didn't come back. The satellite transmitter confirmed the news: the seal had headed far into the open waters of Lake Ladoga.



September 4, 2026: The empty enclosure. For the first time in ten years, a morning without Kroshik.

Elena Andrievskaya and Vyacheslav Alekseyev shared their feelings on the foundation's Telegram channel:

"Even though we can track our beloved boy's movements thanks to the satellite transmitter, our knees are still shaking with worry. After Krosh left, a deep sadness settled over all of us, and we realized that Kroshik wasn't just a rescue or a pet—he was a true member of our family."

The founders added a final note: if Kroshik ever decides to come back, they will always be ready to welcome him home.



September 2026: The GPS tracker logs Kroshik's movements far out in the open waters of Lake Ladoga.

Ten years—from a fragile four-kilogram pup to navigating the open expanse of Lake Ladoga. Two formal releases, three weeks spent wandering among beachgoers, and three years in a floating enclosure. The seal that never wanted to leave has finally returned home to the wild.

Do you think Kroshik will return?