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Friday, 15 March, 2002, 20:55 GMT
Strangled seal defies odds
Butter, grey seal
A net had cut into the neck of Butter, a baby grey seal
A baby grey seal has made a remarkable recovery after a fishing net slowly cut into her neck as she grew.

The seal was found on the beach at Portreath, in west Cornwall, with a large open wound.

Staff at the National Seal Sanctuary in Cornwall took her in but feared she would die from an infection.

They named her Butter and successfully healed the wound - but only after the aggressive pup had bitten two workers.

seal pool
It was one of the worst wounds seen at Gweek
It appeared she had been entangled in a fishing net and cut free - but with a piece of the netting still encircling her neck.

As she grew the net had become tighter and tighter, cutting into her flesh.

But after only a month at the sanctuary in Gweek, near Helston, the deep cut had healed.

Tamar Smith, one of the staff, said: "The wound was very big.

"It was the worst netting injury we have had for several years."

If she she continues to make good progress, Butter will be released before the summer.



See also:

07 Dec 01 | England
Arctic seal goes home
23 Nov 01 | England
Arctic seal's odyssey
23 May 01 | UK
Seal swims free after flipper op
01 Dec 99 | UK
Rescued seal is 'aquaphobic'
28 Jul 99 | UK
Baby seal gives satellite slip
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