Seal rescued after being found with plastic frisbee in neck

Another grey seal with a plastic frisbee deeply embedded in its neck has been rescued from a Norfolk beach, and is now in care at East Winch.

The large adult grey seal was caught on Horsey Beach yesterday in a rescue operation by local charities Friends of Horsey Seals and Marine and Wildlife Rescue.

Named Sir David, after Sir David Attenborough, the male seal was then rushed to the RSPCA’s East Winch Wildlife Centre.

RSPCA staff battled to remove the yellow plastic frisbee, which was causing a severe wound which was infected.

It comes after two very similar rescues since September 2017.

One of those seals, called Pinkafo, was rescued in December and is still recovering at the East Winch Wildlife Centre.

Alison Charles, centre manager said: “I cannot express how sad it is that another seal has been found with a huge infected wound caused as a result of a toy. It’s so infuriating knowing that this injury could have been prevented.

“Once again we are so grateful to the rescuers for catching him, it’s not an easy task to catch a seal of this size on an open beach.

“All we can do now is hope that this seal is strong enough to pull through, he is actually in a worse condition than the previous two frisbee seals, and it always felt touch and go if they would make it.

“Our vet has cut the frisbee off using surgical scissors and he has been given antibiotics and painkillers.

“But he is in a very poor condition. We are concerned because this is a very deep wound. Even if he makes it through the next few days, we are not out of the woods, and we will be treating him for a number of months.”

The seal is likely to be in RSPCA for at least five months and will require at least four 25kg bags of salts a day (costing £13 each) as part of his rehabilitation.

Anyone who would like to help her can make a donation of a salt bag can do so through the East Winch Amazon wish list: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/wishlist/2QW97YL6JNRPQ/ref=pdp_new_wl

The delivery address is RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre, Gayton Road, East Winch, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE32 1LG.