Seal on the brink of death treated by SSPCA in Fishcross

The animal, named Ariel, was found entangled in a fishing line to the point that it had almost decapitated her in Johnshaven, Montrose.

Ariel was taken to the Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross for round the clock care to nurse her back to health.

Wildlife assistant Caitlin Ganley said: “Ariel was the worst entanglement case we’ve ever had to deal with.

“It was heartbreaking to see the extent of her injuries, all of which could have been avoided.

NEAR DEATH: Ariel was lucky to be alive when she was found by the SSPCA (Image: Scottish SPCA) “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 tights around their necks and bodies.”

Ariel suffered heavy bleeding as a result of the life threatening injuries, which included a deep wound to her neck.

It was believed that the one-year-old seal could have been suffering for up to three weeks with the wound, which had become severely infected.

She was rushed to the Fishcross centre, where the dedicated seal rehabilitation team worked to treat her.

Ariel was put on a strict regime of antibiotics and round the clock cleaning and dressing of wounds to prevent further infection.

The whole process took several months before Ariel could be considered safe to return to the sea.

Caitlin continued: “Our main goal was to keep Ariel alive but her welfare and how we were managing her pain and stress was equally important too.

RETURNED: The SSPCA helped Ariel make it back to the wild. (Image: Scottish SPCA) “It was so emotional watching Ariel swim off and as a team, we were thrilled to watch her return to the sea, fully healed and ready to resume her life in the wild where she belongs.

“We put so much of ourselves into her recovery and watching her swim away, knowing she has a second chance, makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Sea animals are at particular risk from abandoned fishing equipment, including nets and finishing lines.

The SSPCA put out a warning to any anglers to remove their equipment so that marine life remained unharmed.

Caitlin added: “Although the vast majority of anglers are responsible and take care to clear away their equipment after they’ve used it, there is a minority of people who fish and don’t respect the environment and the wildlife that inhabits it.”