Entangled Seal Rescue
Entangled Fur Seal Rescue – This sequence of sample footage shows the capture, rescue and successful release of one lucky seal. Entanglement is a huge problem for these playful seals.
The following is a quote from the Tasmanian Government DPIWE:
The greatest threat to seals comes not from their natural predators, white pointer sharks and killer whales, but from humans. Seals are shot by fishermen, and caught and killed as ‘accidental by-catch’ in fisheries operations such as trawling and gill netting, while the ingestion of waste oil and other liquid pollutants poses a further threat to seals.Seals also suffer horrific deaths due to marine pollution, such as entanglement in marine debris. This plastic, non-biodegradable debris includes free-drifting trawl net, packaging straps and monofilament gill net. Such debris causes 1-2% of Tasmania’s seals to suffer a slow strangulation.
Seals are among the most inquisitive of creatures and often end up with rope, fishing net or packaging strap wrapped around their necks. As the seal grows, this material gradually strangles the animal. Before the seal dies it may suffer from starvation due to the entanglement restricting movement or preventing the swallowing of food. Entanglements cutting through the skin, blubber and muscle to reveal the oesophagus have been observed in Tasmanian waters. Ultimately, death is slow and very painful!
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Trawling Net
This poor seal had been living entangled in a bundle of fishing net thrown overboard by a trawler. Despite the difficulty of catching this juvenile, it was successfully released from its burden.
The Rescue Begins
These wild seals do not realise that the humans are trying to help. They keep their distance, making the rescue difficult.
Capture and Cutting of Trawling Net
The seal is captured and disentrangled from its man-made trap.
Rescued Seal Released
After a short time, the seal is finally free of the net which was cutting into its flesh. The seal briefly looks back as it runs away, as if to say “Thank you!”.
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