Grey seal monitoring camera is in Vilsandi National Reserve area, Saaremaa. Seals were once found in large numbers in the Baltic Sea. But decades of pollution and hunting have seen their numbers rapidly drop.
In the early 20th century, the ringed seal population of the Baltic Sea was estimated at 180,000. Today, there are just 7,000-10,000. Grey and harbour seal numbers are also in a precarious state. Although some populations have slightly increased, overall they continue to be threatened.

Vilsandi National Park

Vilsandi National Park is one of the oldest protected areas in the Baltic Sea region. The Park is located near the western coast of the Estonian biggest island - Saaremaa. The National Park encompasses the western coast of Saaremaa, Vilsandi Island and approximately 160 islands and islets of different sizes. Together with surrounding marine area Vilsandi National Park encompasses altogether 238 square km. Vilsandi is the central island of the National Park consisting of two islands, which are connected with a narrow neck of land. Vilsandi is the biggest island in the National Park and the Park's only island with human settlement. It is also the most westward populated island in Estonia. The most characteristic to the landscape are the small islands and islets of the nature park. Lots of small islets are less than half a kilometre long and 100 m wide.

Shallow sea surrounding the islets is very rich for marine vegetation and small animals offering good living and spawning conditions to variety of fish species and great food supply for nesting and migratory bird species. The small Vaika islands near Vilsandi were designated as a protected area for bird's protection already at the beginning of the 20th century. In addition to protection of bird species, the current task of the National Park is also to preserve coastal and sea landscapes and species-rich vegetation of West Estonia. West-Estonia is an important flyway of migratory birds connecting arctic regions with north-eastern Europe.

Hundreds of thousands of birds visit Saaremaa in spring and autumn. Tens of thousands seabirds stop, breed, migrate and nest on the surrounding islets of Vilsandi. More than 250 bird species have been registered in the National Park. Thanks to the protective conditions of the area its fauna is also numerous, among which big population of grey seals deserves special attention. The small islets in the area are permanent resting and breeding areas for a large fraction of grey seal population of the Baltic Sea.