Seal with toilet seat stuck on body spotted in Aberdeenshire
Visitors are being urged not to approach the animal
Last updated 17th Oct 2024
A seal with a toilet seat stuck on its body has been spotted at an Aberdeenshire nature reserve.
Visitors alerted wildlife experts to the distressed animal in the Ythan Estuary.
Images show the seat around the seal’s mid-section.
Volunteers with British Divers Marine Life Rescue say they need to wait until it goes onto land before attempting to help it.
The group’s Lee Watson said: “We need the seal to haul out onto the beach so that we can restrain the seal.
Through our head office, we would need to give the seal a full assessment from a vet, we would need to check for injuries and obviously get the entanglement removed which is quite an operation in itself.
“This is a very unique case.
“We understand that there’s going to be fishing gear, nets and other industrial waste from offshore or the fishing industry that’s going to be present.
“But for this one to end up in the sea and around the seal’s neck is quite unusual.”
Experts are hoping the toilet seat will restrict the seal’s ability to move and eat, and therefore keep it in the local area.
They also say the Ythan Estuary is a hot spot for seal entanglement because of the high visitor count and the number of seals that swim nearby.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue teams will be visiting the site at the weekend to try and help but are urging locals to stay away if they spot the distressed animal.
Anyone who comes across it on the beach around the Ythan should contact the BDMLR on 01825 765546.