'Entanglement'

 Every day animals become entangled in rubbish that gets into our seas. Unable to escape from the entanglement, this can result in serious injuries and in some cases even death.

At the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, they are dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of grey seal pups, many of whom have suffered the effects of entanglement due to marine litter.

Animal entanglement can happen for a number of reasons. For seals, entanglement tends to happen out of curiosity. By nature, seals are inquisitive and playful and will investigate items they come across. Marine litter such as plastic beach or dogs toys, diving equipment or netting, are particularly dangerous to mammals like seals. They will investigate the item, then accidentally get stuck inside it or get it wrapped around their neck, body or appendages. The seal is then unable to get out of the item and as the seal grows, the item gets tighter and tighter, causing serious wounds or in some cases, death. The less litter there is in the oceans, the less chance there is of an animal suffering.

Jewellery is meant for humans to wear and sadly you often see a seal with a fishing line entangled around its neck like a necklace…