Wildlife rescue volunteers are urging people to stop buying toy flying rings as they find young seals with them stuck around their necks and say some have died as a result.
“They cut the seals’ necks, which leads to infection and, unfortunately, many die,” said Gareth Richards, founder of Gower Seal Group.
It has started a campaign to discourage its use due to the number of discarded flying rings ending up on the beaches of Swansea and the Gower Peninsula.
The RSPCA charity said it was a widespread problem and could cost up to £15,000 to treat an injured seal.
Warning: distressing images
Swansea council is expected to discuss what steps it can take to help support the campaign at a meeting next month.
Richards said “flying rings are sold so cheaply, often for £1 or £2, that they often get lost or discarded on beaches and inevitably end up at sea.”
“You then have seals, younger seals specifically, 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 they get stuck in their necks and can’t get out. . “, he added.
Richards wants people to stop buying plastic rings and use the “traditional, solid Frisbee.”
The RSPCA said it was a serious problem on the coast.
Rehabilitating a seal requires a “long, long period of expensive wound treatment” with antibiotics and painkillers, according to senior wildlife officer Geoff Edmond.
“Eventually, there is hope that the wound will heal and the animal can be returned to the wild,” he said.
Gower Seal Group volunteer Elin Carter, who studies environmental science at university, says she decided to help after realizing how harmful plastic items can be to marine life.
“Since I started volunteering, I have seen many seals being washed up on beaches, dead or with very serious injuries, preventing them from swimming and living life as they should, all because of the plastic rings,” she said.
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said the authority intends to discuss action at next month’s full council meeting.
“The aim will be to raise awareness of the danger and encourage local residents and visitors to our beaches to stop using flying ring Frisbees – and to use solid disc Frisbees – and, of course, to always take them home so that It doesn’t end up in our oceans,” he said.
