The Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue Team is facing unprecedented activity in their efforts to rescue entangled seals on Block Island, Rhode Island. Program manager Sarah Callan reports an alarming increase in entangled gray seals, with 20 incidents reported to date—surpassing the usual annual total for the organization. Entanglement typically occurs due to fishing gear, garbage, or balloons constricting the seals’ necks, leading to severe injury or death.
Recently, NBC News accompanied Mystic’s team, which collaborates with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and Block Island Maritime Institute, in their mission to disentangle seal pups. The team utilized stealth and speed while army-crawling to avoid spooking a group of sunbathing pups before successfully extracting an entangled one. They swiftly provided medical attention by drawing blood and attaching a tracker, cutting the netting off the seal’s neck before releasing it back to the ocean.
This rescue effort follows the heartbreaking incident of a seal named “Chappy,” who gained public attention after being stranded in New Haven. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to severe gastrointestinal issues and plastic pollution in his stomach, emphasizing the ongoing threat marine debris poses to wildlife.
Callan noted the troubling frequency of young seals encountering human-made debris, linking this issue to the broader state of ocean health. The Mystic team remains committed to raising awareness about these hazards. Celebrating their recent rescue, Callan expressed the joy of giving a seal a second chance at life, affirming their vital role in marine conservation.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
