A seal who was rescued with a mass of fishing netting entangled and embedded in his neck has been released back to the wild thanks to the efforts of RSPCA team-members in West Norfolk.
Cargol the large grey seal was released at Horsey Beach much to the delight of his rescuers.
He was rescued on Waxham Beach in Norfolk on December 28 last year, in a joint rescue operation between local charities Friends of Horsey Seals and Marine and Wildlife Rescue.
The large adult male grey seal was rushed to the RSPCA’s East Winch Wildlife Centre where veterinary staff battled to remove the netting which was deeply embedded in his neck, causing a severe wound which was infected.
But just over two months since he was rescued, he was released back to the wild and watched on by rescuers from the charities and members of the public visiting the area.
The large grey seal – who now weighs around 115kgs – wasted no time bouncing across the beach to the sea.
His remarkable recovery was made possible thanks to the dedicated and expert care of the staff at the centre.
Last year the centre dealt with 13 seals which needed help because of objects entangled around their neck – while even more have been helped by rescuers in situ on beaches.
Evangelos Achilleos, Wildlife Centre Manager, said: “It was great that we were able to release Cargol back to the sea and that his rescuers were there to watch him head into the water.
“He’s been quite a feisty patient – and had a lot of attitude – so we think he will do well now he’s back in the wild. We think he’s about four to five years-old, and he weighed 97kg when he first arrived and now we think he’s around 115kg.
“His fighting spirit has helped him recover in record time and it’s great that we have been able to return him home so quickly.
“As always his success story is down to a real team effort from the rescuers who managed to catch him on the beach – all the vets, staff and volunteers at East Winch and to the public who have been so generous in their donations of salt to help with his recovery.”
“We were once again just over the moon with the generosity of our supporters and so want to say a huge thank you to all of them – we couldn’t do it without them.”
