Discarded toy rings can kill seals, rescuers say

Gower Seal Society seal with a ring stuck on the head — Seal with a ring stuck on its head

Wildlife rescue volunteers are urging people to stop buying toy flying rings because they are finding young seals with the rings stuck around their necks and say some have died.

“They cut the seals’ necks, which causes infection and sadly many die,” said Gareth Richards, founder of Gower Seal Group.

She launched a campaign to discourage their use because of the number of discarded flying rings ending up on beaches in Swansea and the Gower Peninsula.

Animal welfare charity RSPCA said it was a widespread problem and treating an injured seal could cost up to £15,000.

Warning: shocking images

Swansea council is due to discuss what steps it can take to support the campaign at a meeting next month.

Mr Richards said: “Flying rings are sold so cheaply, often for £1 or £2, that they often get lost or thrown onto beaches and, inevitably, end up in the sea.”

“You then have seals, younger seals in particular, who see this as a toy and those few moments of curiosity will turn into a lifetime of misery when these things go over their heads and get stuck on their necks and they can’t get off,” he added.

Mr Richards wants people to stop buying plastic rings and instead use the “traditional solid disc frisbee”.

The rings can cause deep wounds around the seals’ necks

Gower Seal Society Deep wound around seal's neck — The rings can cause deep wounds around the seals’ necks

A large number of rings have been found abandoned on Rhossili beach alone

Gower Seal Group Discarded Rings — A large number of rings have been found abandoned on Rhossili beach alone

The RSPCA said it was a serious problem on the coast.

Rehabilitating a seal requires a “long, long period of costly wound management” with antibiotics and painkillers, according to Geoff Edmond, senior wildlife officer.

“There is finally hope that this injury will heal and the animal can be released into the wild,” he said.

Gower Seal Group volunteer Elin Carter, who is studying environmental science at university, said she decided to help after realising how harmful plastic items can be to marine life.

“Since I started volunteering, I have seen many seals washed up on beaches, dead or seriously injured, preventing them from swimming and living as they should, all because of the plastic rings,” she said.

Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said the authority intended to discuss what action to take at next month’s full council meeting.

“The aim will be to raise awareness among locals and visitors to our beaches of the danger and to encourage them to stop using frisbees with flying rings, but instead use frisbees with solid discs, and of course to always take them home so that they do not end up in our oceans,” he said.