Hades the seal being cared for at RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre after being found on Horsey beach with flying ring embedded in his neck
A seal is being treated for critical injuries at a West Norfolk wildlife centre after being found with a plastic flying ring deeply embedded in his neck.
The severely ill seal, called Hades, was caught on Horsey Beach on Saturday in a joint rescue operation between local charities Friends of Horsey Seals and Marine and Wildlife Rescue.
The large adult male grey seal was then rushed to the RSPCA’s East Winch Wildlife Centre where staff and the centre’s vet battled to remove the blue plastic flying ring, which had caused a severe wound which had become infected.
Hades is one of 11 seals that have been taken to the centre this year with objects entangled around their necks – even more have been dealt with by rescuers on the beaches.
Officials said that – as with all seals who suffer entanglements – Hades was exhausted and underweight.
Now that the flying ring has been removed by the RSPCA vets, he will be given regular salt baths to help heal the wound, as well as antibiotics and anti-inflammatories.
Evangelos Achilleos, centre manager at East Winch Wildlife Centre, said that Hades’ injury was “very concerning”.
“We have had a real spate of entangled seals being brought to us after they have been found with items entangled around their neck - it is really worrying how many we have had to help this year already,” he said.
“Hades’ injury is very concerning and it has caused just the most awful injury.
“It is always touch and go for the first few days with any entangled seal, because once the obstruction is removed a seal can then suffer from the toxins that start to spread in their body.
“We will do all we can to help Hades recover. He will be given lots of salt baths and if anyone is able to donate multivitamins, Safe 4 disinfectant, gloves our staff can use (can be found on our Amazon Wishlist), funds for his recovery (on our JustGiving page) we will be very grateful.
“We also want to say thank you to the rescuers for being able to catch Hades and bring him into the centre.
“We and other organisations have been campaigning to urge people not to use these types of flying rings on their beaches and we are grateful to the councils who have agreed to ban them.”
In a post on Facebook on Tuesday evening, officials at the centre said Hades was eating his fish well and “has fight in him which is what we want to see”, but added that there will be a “long way ahead for his recovery”.
Last year, the RSPCA teamed up with Pets at Home to develop a new seal-friendly ring for dogs.
Product developers at Pets at Home joined forces with experts at the RSPCA to design a flying ring which features an internal frame to help seals avoid injury. Solid discs are also a safe alternative.
