When volunteers from the Friends of Horsey Seals Charity (FHSC) spotted a young seal with a bright orange collar around her neck earlier this summer, they knew they had to help her. The unsuspecting creature had sadly become entangled in a circular plastic
Frisbee, and as she grew bigger, the ring steadily tightened.
The team of volunteers kept their eyes peeled for the poor girl, whom they nicknamed Orange Frisbee Seal, for weeks and planned to rescue her as soon as possible. But every time she showed up, she was just beyond their reach.
“She kept popping up, but always proved to be elusive,” FHSC wrote on Facebook. “[S]he was never in a position where we could attempt rescue.”
Whenever the volunteers answered a call about Orange Frisbee Seal, she’d either plop back into the water before they arrived or hide among a group of pregnant seals, whom they refused to disturb.
Weeks passed without a successful rescue attempt, and as Orange Frisbee Seal grew, so did the team’s desperation to save her. Then one day, someone spotted her on the shore in a "solitary position," and the volunteers rushed in.
Within minutes of arriving, the volunteers safely captured the seal, later named Monsoon. They carefully transported Monsoon to RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre, which was already caring for two other seals with severe neck injuries.
“Heartbreakingly, all three have arrived with completely different entanglements — a flying ring, a [shopping bag] and fishing litter,” RSPCA East Winch wrote on Facebook. “Three different items, but the same devastating consequences.”
You can see more images of Monsoon’s rescue here:
At RSPCA East Winch, the team removed the plastic frisbee, also known as a flying ring. The ring had unfortunately left a deep laceration all around Monsoon's neck, but the team was hopeful that she’d make a full recovery in no time.
Like the other seals, Doughnut and Marine Litter, Monsoon soon settled into her very own quarantine pod and began a lengthy treatment plan.
She received antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications while the veterinary team assessed her wound daily. Thankfully, her injuries started to heal, and after 20 days in indoor quarantine, she was finally healthy enough to go outside.
“Monsoon … is outside in a bigger pool, building up her muscles before release,” RSPCA East Winch wrote on Facebook. “Her wound is [healing] well.”
Monsoon exceeded her rescuers’ expectations. Within a month of being rescued, the sweet girl fully recovered and was finally ready to return to her colony. On November 10, the RSPCA East Winch team shuttled Monsoon back to her home along the UK’s east coast and watched her bounce back into the ocean.
“The team at East Winch have worked their usual magic, so today was release day back at Horsey,” FHSC wrote on Facebook. “[There was] a little bit of hesitation when hitting the waterline, a look back, but then back to where she belongs.”
You can watch that moment here:
The FHSC crew who rescued Monsoon and the RSPCA East Winch team who nursed her back to health were elated to see her return home, but their mission didn’t end there. Both groups continue to raise awareness about the dangers of marine litter — especially flying rings — in hopes that wildlife entanglement cases decrease.
Until then, they’ll remember Monsoon’s incredible recovery as they advocate for the grey seal population in their beloved community.
