Rescuers Free Seal Trapped Between Boulders in Orkney, Scotland
ORKNEY, Scotland — A team of dedicated marine animal rescuers successfully freed a seal pup stuck between large boulders on Westray, one of the Orkney Islands, after hours of painstaking effort on December 22. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) team responded to an urgent call reporting the stranded seal, which was trapped “bitey end up,” complicating the rescue operation.
Tom Hadley, a rescuer with BDMLR, described the seal’s position as particularly challenging, noting the animal’s powerful bite made direct contact risky. “They have got a pretty serious bite,” Hadley told BBC Radio Scotland. To safely extract the seal, rescuers placed a team member just out of reach inside the narrow crevice to distract the animal by waving a towel, allowing the team to restrain and free the seal without harm.
The extraction required extensive digging around the seal, with rescuers even breaking a shovel in the process. Assistance arrived from Cooke Aquaculture, a local company, which provided heavy machinery to lift one of the massive boulders trapping the seal. Following the physical rescue, the team conducted a quick health assessment to ensure the seal was unharmed.
BDMLR shared updates on social media, celebrating the release of the “feisty, plump pup” back into the wild, where it was soon seen rejoining other seals along the coast. Despite the successful rescue, Hadley noted the seal was understandably irritable, stating, “It was pretty cross with us. They don’t know we’re trying to help, they just see someone trying to attack them.”
This rescue highlights the vital work of organizations like BDMLR, which specialize in the rescue and rehabilitation of marine wildlife. Their efforts align with broader conservation initiatives supported by agencies such as the Scottish Government’s Marine Environment policies and the Marine Management Organisation in the UK, which oversee the protection of marine habitats and species.
Marine mammal rescues require specialized knowledge and equipment, as seals and other wildlife can become trapped in natural or man-made hazards along coastlines. The BDMLR team’s successful operation not only saved the seal but also raised public awareness about the challenges marine animals face in their natural habitats.
For more information on marine wildlife rescue and how to support conservation efforts, visit the British Divers Marine Life Rescue website and the National Marine Fisheries Service, which provides resources on marine mammal protection worldwide.
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