The juvenile seal named Galactica was discovered in distress a few days ago on a beach in the county of Norfolk, eastern England. It had a piece of discarded fishing net tied around its neck, causing a deep laceration that could have killed the animal.
A piece of fishing net was tied around the neck of a gray seal in Norfolk. Photo: RSPCA.
Veterinary experts took Galactica to the nearby East Winch Wildlife Center (RSPCA) for care. It is gradually recovering after being injected with painkillers, antibiotics and disinfecting the wound daily with medical saline. The RSPCA said the animal will require several months of treatment and when fully recovered it will be released back into the wild.
The centre’s manager Alison Charles said last week an adult gray seal was also constricted around its head and neck by a fishing net at Horsey Beach. “Its head was swollen and filled with pus. We carefully removed the net from the animal but it did not survive due to the severity of its injuries. It was heartbreaking to see this beautiful creature die while we fought to save its life,” Charles shared.
The laceration around the seal’s neck was caused by a fishing net. Photo: RSPCA.
Norfolk is one of the most important breeding locations for gray seals, with thousands of pups born along the beaches each year. Last year, around 5,000 seal pups were born on the shores of Blakeney Point and Horsey, according to the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
Plastic waste, especially discarded fishing gear, is a threat to all marine life, from tiny crustaceans to large mammals. In a study conducted in 2019, conservationists discovered plastic inside the stomachs of all 50 dead seals, whales and dolphins that washed up on British beaches.