Scientists say the rebound reflects years of protection efforts by countries along the Baltic coast, supported by new technology that allows researchers to compare tens of thousands of images in just hours rather than by eye. Despite a harsh winter across the region, the seals appear to have coped well with icy conditions, adapting by resting on sandbanks and coastal shallows when stable sea ice is scarce. In Poland, orphaned and injured seal pups are being cared for at a specialized rehabilitation center on the Hel Peninsula, helping support the species’ continued recovery. Researchers say the Baltic case shows how conservation measures, international monitoring and modern tools can help endangered animals return from the brink.