While SRRC employees, along with their guests, were busy releasing Croco and four other seals, Jan Koning called from Vlieland. He had spotted a seal with a piece of nylon netting around his neck, lying on the Engelse Hoek sandbank. Could he be saved?
Hessel, Aike, André and Lenie immediately got moving with the Typhoon (a speed boat belonging to shipping company Rederij Noordgat). Luckily, the young grey seal was lying high up on the sandbank, so that the rescue team was able to catch the poor, exhausted animal without too much hassle, while the other seals watched from a safe distance.
The seal was brought to shore in a kind of hammock. There, it became clear that the thin nylon wire had caused deep cuts and serious wounding around the neck. Lenie cut away as much of the net as she could, so that the animal would not feel more pain and stress on the journey. Then, the animal was transported to Pieterburen where we were able to treat him. For a moment, it seemed that the young seal (born this winter) might suffer from shock – which is potentially deadly - due to pain, but luckily the administering of ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) carried him through.
These fine-meshed nets, which can cause deep cuts, have already claimed countless victims. Luckily, this latest victim has a good chance of survival in Pieterburen. When he has recovered sufficiently, he will be released back to sea. Meanwhile, he can be seen via the webcam in quarantine room 4.
04-30-2009 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
