A young harbour seal named Annette was recently saved from a dangerous gillnet that had wrapped around her neck in West Vancouver. An alert passerby noticed the distressed seal and contacted the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society, who quickly stepped in to assist.
Named Annette by her rescuers, the seal had likely been struggling with the net for up to four weeks, causing deep wounds around her neck. Concerns were raised about potential internal injuries, but fortunately, Annette’s anatomy remained unharmed.
Despite being only seven months old, Annette was severely underweight due to her inability to feed while entangled in the gillnet. Initially requiring assistance to eat, she has since been recovering well and is now enjoying fish independently in a rehabilitation pool.
This rescue serves as a reminder that marine animals often face dangers like fishing gear or other human-made debris in their habitats. Lindsay Akhurst, a senior manager at the rescue society, emphasized the importance of prevention to protect these vulnerable creatures.
While Annette continues her recovery and gains strength, she will receive ongoing care until she is deemed fit to return to the Pacific Ocean. Akhurst expressed gratitude for the timely intervention that saved Annette’s life, highlighting the crucial role of public awareness in aiding marine animal rescues.