12 Boating New Zealand
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“She’s a
fighter. It’s
taken a long,
long time but
she’s finally
come good.”A
n emaciated Atlantic grey seal which nearly choked to
death with a frisbee stuck around her neck has been
released back into the wild after a five-month recovery
programme.
The seal was ‘nearly dead’ with deep cut wounds when she
was found last year at Horsey beach in Norfolk in the UK.
Staf at the RSPCA’s East Winch wildlife centre – where staf
nicknamed her Mrs Frisbee – had to cut away the plastic toy which
had cut deep into the seal’s neck. They believe Mrs Frisbee couldMRS FRISBEE
GOES HOME
have been struggling with the plastic ring throttling her for up to six
months.
But she has since made a full recovery, having ballooned
from 67kg on admission to 180kg on the day she was released.
Centre Manager Alison Charles says the seal was given
antibiotics and steroids and was eating mackerel by the next day.
“She’s a fighter. It’s taken a long, long time but she’s finally
come good. She’s got a heck of a scar because of her extensive
injury, but she’s brilliant.”
Charles says seals are inquisitive creatures by nature, and it’s
likely she spotted the frisbee which got stuck round her neck.
“It is heartbreaking to think that this could have been prevented
if people just took extra care with their litter on the coastline.”