Seal hurt by fishing line released back into sea

Warning: graphic content

A grey seal found "close to death" after becoming entangled in a fishing line has recovered from her injuries and been released back into the sea.

The seal, named Ariel, was rescued from a beach in Johnshaven, Montrose, by a Scottish SPCA officer.

She was bleeding heavily, with a deep wound to her neck from the line which almost decapitated her.

Veterinarians said Ariel, believed to be at least a year old, could have been suffering for up to three weeks with the wound, which had become severely infected.

She was taken to the Scottish SPCA's national wildlife rescue centre at Fishcross, Alloa where the team began round the clock care to nurse her back to health.

Scottish SPCA wildlife assistant Caitlin Ganley said Ariel's condition was the worst entanglement case the centre had ever encountered.

She said: "It was heart-breaking to see the extent of her injuries, all of which could have been avoided.

“Seals are particularly vulnerable to becoming entangled in fishing lines, nets and other debris. Once trapped they often suffer slow painful deaths as the gear tightens around their necks and bodies."

She urged anglers to act responsibly, and remove equipment from the water after they have used it.

After removing the fishing line from Ariel's neck, the centre's dedicated wildlife team started a strict regime of antibiotics and hand feeding the seal, who was refusing to eat independently.

After three months, Ariel's wounds had healed and her weight reached 56kg, meaning she was able to be released back into the wild.

“It was so emotional watching Ariel swim off," Ms Ganley said.

"As a team, we were thrilled to watch her return to the sea, fully healed and ready to resume her life in the wild were she belongs.

“Watching her swim away, knowing she has a second chance, makes all the hard work worthwhile.”