A young gray seal caught in a snare of discarded fishing gear that had tightened around her neck has a long road to recovery. By the time rescuers reached her, the debris had cut through her and left her nearly unable to move through the water, states an online report by Broadland Radio. Her caregivers named the seal Donut and she was found at Horsey on September 20 in a condition that left little room for delay. She is now being cared for by specialists at the RSPCA’s East Winch Wildlife Center and her survival remains uncertain, adds the online report.
Four kilos of wreckage
Donut, about a year old, had become ensnared in a tangle of netting, twine, fishing hooks and metal. The material was tight against her neck now, a heavy collar that still hurt when she moved. When rescuers finally freed her the tangled mess weighed around four kilos. The debris had cut deep into the seal’s neck, causing a wound some three inches deep. The injury was painful, and it also threatened her ability to swim and hunt, skills that a young seal needs to survive in the wild. With help from members of the public, volunteers from Friends of Horsey Seals managed to get Donut onto a stretcher and safely remove her from the beach.
The road ahead is hard
Donut was taken to the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Center for emergency veterinary treatment. She is still in critical condition and the priority now is to treat her serious wound and stabilize her health. She is expected to pull through the initial ordeal but her recovery will be a long one. It will be several months before she is strong enough to go back to sea, and that will be with treatment and rehab, states the online report. For a young seal already weakened by injury the process will involve rebuilding her strength and ensuring she can once again swim, feed and fend for herself in the wild.
The shore line is a red flag
Doughnut’s plight reflects a continuing danger to marine wildlife around the British coast. Fishing line, netting, hooks, ropes and other discarded materials can persist in the marine environment long after they have fulfilled their original function. Animals can become entangled while swimming, feeding or resting, and injuries can be exacerbated as the material constricts around their bodies. Doughnut’s case was a few kilograms of debris that became a potentially deadly trap.Her rescue also emphasizes the necessity of promptly reporting animals in distress and involving trained wildlife rescuers. The next few months will tell if Donut can recover from her injuries and make it back to the Norfolk coast. The young seal is currently in specialist care, and her survival depends on treatment, rehabilitation and time, concludes the report.Image Courtesy: istock
