Three seals rescued in Norfolk after becoming entangled in plastic waste
RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre is providing emergency care for seals injured by man-made items
Three seals have been rescued and are receiving emergency care at the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre in Norfolk after becoming entangled in man-made waste.
The latest seal was rescued on 7th October by Friends of Horsey Seals from a beach in Waxham with a flying ring embedded in her neck.
It took weeks to catch her for specialist care, and the juvenile grey female has been named Monsoon.
A few days prior, another seal named Marine Litter was rescued from a beach at Eccles on Sea after being entangled in a plastic 'bag for life'.
Another, Doughnut, was rescued on 20th September from Horsey, tangled in fishing debris.
These 'necklace injuries' are dangerous, as removing obstructions can release toxins into the seals' bodies.
Seals rescued from entanglement are often exhausted and underweight, as the objects cut into their flesh, hinder their swimming and hunting, and cause unimaginable pain.
“These seals are suffering horrific injuries from items that should never have been in the water,” Evangelos Achilleos, Centre Manager at RSPCA East Winch, said.
Since 2008, East Winch has helped 104 seals with such injuries, with 95 released back into the wild.
Last year, 10 seals with necklace injuries were treated, a fivefold increase from 2008 figures.