Shocking images have surfed the net and they show 2 seals being suffocated by a plastic ring and a fishing net.
The two seals were seen by volunteers in the Norfolk Coast.
David Vyse, a member of the Horsey Seals Wildlife Group, said their volunteers helped rescue 3 seals who had something trapped in their necks so far.
RSPCA said that there were 473 animals affected by plastic pollution in 2015, in 2018, those numbers increased to 579 and these numbers are expected to increase.
In Norfolk, there have been 3 reported cases of seals that had plastic flying discs stuck around their necks. This restricted the growth of the seals and it even managed to get into their neck flesh.
2 years ago, Frisbee, a seal, was rescued and released in 2018.
Last year in December, Pinkafo, a seal, was rescued and was released back into the sea earlier this year.
Sir David, a seal that was named after Sir David Attenborough, had a disc stuck around its neck. A vet had to use surgical scissors to remove the disc from its neck. Sir David was released back into the sea after staying 3 months with the RSPCA.
In order to avoid such horrific things, local volunteers are now encouraging people to clean up areas where seals could be seen.
Volunteers are also encouraging residents to take home flying discs.
The manager of the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Center, Alison Charles, explains why Frisbee’s are a huge problem.
Alison explains, “The problem is that younger seals, the adventurers, see these Frisbees in the water and want to play with them. The Frisbee slips over their heads — and once it’s on, it stays on.”
If the Frisbee cuts into the flesh of the animal, it can cause bleeding, infection, and can eventually weaken the animal.
A Frisbee around the neck of a seal can also affect their breathing.
Vets say it is a long, slow, and a painful death for animals.