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Video released of Grey Seal rehabilitation
British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and the RSPCA have released a moving video that documents the rehabilitation of a young seal pup, ‘Full Circle’, found suffering from horrific neck injuries.
Marine litter; such as fishing net, monofilament line and packing straps; all pose a threat to our marine mammals, with seals in particular prone to entanglement. Entanglement often occurs through a seals inquisitive nature, particularly when young. If entanglement occurs at an early age the individuals will actually grow ‘around’ the offending noose, resulting in the horrific wounds shown in the video. If this is not removed it will eventually lead to asphyxiation and death.
Entanglement may also involve larger pieces of material such as netting. If large pieces are caught on the flippers, this may restrict movement and hunting ability. Further still it could result in snagging underwater, causing the seal to drown.
While the extents of Full Circle’s injuries are upsetting, the resulting video does show that these majestic animals can recover if given the right care and attention. In this case, the combined efforts of BDMLR and the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre (having worked together since 1992) resulted in the seal surviving.
While the story of ‘Full Circle’ has a happy ending, there are many more seals suffering similar injuries, and marine litter continues to impact heavily on our marine environment.
The video can be viewed at the following link (some viewers may find the images upsetting)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJGiBPG8q1A
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