Fur seal freed from netting

Public praised for helping to track and save animal

A DISTRESSED young seal has been cut free from a net it was caught in off the East Coast.

Staff from the state Marine Conservation program and the St Helens Parks and Wildlife Service Field Centre removed the net from the male Australian fur seal near Shelley Point, at Scamander this week.

State wildlife Marine biologist Sam Thalmann said there had been concerns for the welfare of the seal because it had proved difficult to capture.

“We first received reports of the entangled seal through the whale hotline two weeks ago, however the seal had been extremely flighty and staff where unable to approach at that time in order to respond,” he said.

“The local community and Parks and Wildlife Service staff provided great assistance by keeping us updated on the seal’s movements which enabled us to build up a good picture of the seal’s behaviour and haul-out patterns.”

Staff were told on Tuesday the seal was in a good location for capture.

“[He was] captured at last light, and the netting cut free,” Mr Thalmann said.

He also said the entanglement could have killed the seal.

“The entanglement was starting to cut through the skin surface and could have resulted in a slow and painful death,” he said.

“Once [the net was] removed, the seal was assessed as healthy and was released onsite. He was last seen swimming freely out to sea.”

Mr Thalmann said the rescue was a reminder of the importance of all marine equipment being managed and disposed of appropriately.y

He also urged peoplele to re-report any incidents of possiblepossible entanglements of marineine ani-animals.

“Juvenile fur seals arere ex-extremely curious and in-inquisitive and as such willwill interact with any float-ting debris found in thee ocean, including netting and plastics.”