Volunteers who rescue wildlife are urging the public to cease buying toy flying rings due to their alarming discoveries. They say the rings have become lodged around the necks of young seals, causing infections and, in some cases, leading to their deaths. Gareth Richards, founder of the Gower Seal Group, launched a campaign to discourage the use of the rings due to the quantity of them ending up on beaches in Swansea and the Gower Peninsula. The RSPCA commented that it is a significant issue around the UK’s coast which can cost a minimum of £15,000 to treat an injured seal.
This problem has been recognised by Swansea Council, which will be discussing ways to support the campaign at its next meeting. The cheapness of the flying rings means they are often either lost or discarded on beaches before they inevitably end up in the sea, the charity said. Young seals are attracted to them as they appear to be toys. Gareth Richards is passionate about the subject, insisting that people stop buying the rings and advocate the use of the “solid traditional disk frisbee instead.”
Elin Carter, a volunteer for Gower Seal Group and student of environmental science, realised the catastrophic impact that plastic had on marine life and decided to volunteer with the group. She and her fellow volunteers have had to witness a number of seals with irreparable injuries or dead due to plastic rings. Swansea council leader, Rob Stewart, has pledged to raise awareness and encourage visitors and residents to refrain from using plastic rings by replacing them with more environmentally friendly options, using solid disk frisbees instead.
The issue of plastic in the oceans continues to grow, with five major ocean ecosystems threatened due to mounting plastic pollution. Advertising campaigns, documentaries, and conservation groups are all attempting to educate the general public to realise plastic pollution is a severe issue not only for marine wildlife but ecosystems worldwide. In response, there have been numerous initiatives such as recycling communities, banning plastic, more organised collection days for rubbish, and improved scientific studies.
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