Anglesey marine biologist describes heart-breaking seal pup death

Gem Simmons had to take time off after the seal rescue attempt

The death of a seal pup that became tangled on a balloon string was described as heart-breaking by a marine biologist.

Gem Simmons, from Prestatyn, Denbighshire, rescued the pup last year near Trearddur Bay on Anglesey, but it later died.

Although she did not want to attribute the death to the string, she said it was a contributing factor.

On the anniversary of the incident, she warned people of the dangers.

This was after Ms Simmons noticed a number of people releasing items into the air.

All Welsh councils have banned the release of balloons and lanterns from local authority-owned land, a move that was welcomed by groups including RSPCA Cymru.

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Ms Simmons, 31, said it was the first rescue in 14 years that had really affected her because of the condition the pup was in, saying you could see something was wrong from "a great distance".

"Seals should be lifting their heads and looking round. I thought he was dead, but as I got closer I saw his eyes moving so I knew it was alive," she said.

The north Wales co-ordinator for British Divers Marine Life Rescue, added the seal almost looked pleased to be rescued.

"His flippers weren't coming round his body, we rolled him over and saw his flippers pinned together to its stomach, and the balloon string was entangled around his claws."

The seal had the balloon string tied around its flippers

She said he seemed brighter, but there was "some paralysis" and he died later that evening.

Ms Simmons said she finished that season and took a few months off because of how much that entanglement affected her.

"Global climate change means the seals have to deal with more frequent and severe storms, meaning their mortality rate is high, and then there is something else contributing to their death," she said.

"This seal was just lying on the beach in this horrendous storm, and looked like he was going to drown, staring death in the face, if we didn't remove and save him."

She said the rescue had to be quick because of the incoming tide meaning she had to "carry him like a baby off the beach".

"It was heart-breaking to watch. His white coat indicated he was probably less than four weeks old," she said.

Ms Simmons decided to post a photo of the seal on the anniversary after seeing a few balloon releases in the area.

Despite Gem's best efforts, the seal pup did not survive the ordeal

"Once you let go of a balloon you have no control, and I am seeing more and more of these entanglements, but also there are balloons that we see on beaches, with the tags still on, you can see where they have come from, and the personal messages," she said.

She said all entanglements will eventually lead to death, with some dying slower deaths as their feeding and diving become inhibited.

She added: "They are notoriously difficult to rescue, it's tricky when you are getting adult seals that are 300kg entangled, it's a logistical nightmare."

Ms Simmons said a ban on balloon releases would be a help, as they affect both marine life and livestock, which sometimes eat balloons.

"People wouldn't chuck litter on the floor. Just because you are releasing it into the sky doesn't mean it won't fall on the ground and cause damage."