A seal named after Freddie Mercury was rescued at Teddington Lock on the weekend, after a fishing hook acquired caught in its lip.
The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and volunteers from throughout the UK fished ‘Freddie Mercury’ the seal out from the lock on Saturday.
They used nets and closed the lock gates to scoop the seal up, which additionally knocked the fishing lure out of its mouth.
Vet Scott Miller then cleaned the wound and gave the grateful marine mammal some antibiotics.
The seal’s digital tag was then learn and a few shocking info found, together with his actual title.
Freddie, it was revealed, was beneath a 12 months previous and had come to the UK from the Netherlands although with a quick detour in Calais the place he was handled for lungworm.
HOOKED: Freddie had a fishing lure caught in his lip for per week earlier than he was rescued
Credit score: Sue Lindenberg
The adventurous pup was deemed prepared for launch, and he was taken to the Isle of Sheppey in Kent to begin a brand new life close to the Thames Estuary.
Teddington resident and wildlife photographer Sue Lindenberg was photographing Freddie on Monday 15 February when she observed his harm.
She and a bystander phoned round to get assist for the seal, together with notifying lock keeper Gemma Riley, who was later current on the rescue.
Lindenberg checked up on Freddie all through the week earlier than his rescue.
She stated: “I’m so grateful to the BDMLR and all concerned for pulling out all of the stops to rescue Freddy.
“He turned fairly a celeb!”
“The superb factor is he was capable of catch and swallow sizeable fish!”
CATCH OF THE DAY: the ‘superstar’ seal beloved to Teddington residents was nonetheless capable of catch fish regardless of his harm. Credit score: Sue Lindenberg
“He was fairly a personality, under no circumstances bothered by individuals,” Lindenberg added.
“We’re blessed to have had him right here.
“It’s such a reduction to know that the hook was by way of his lip and never in his throat.”
Earlier this 12 months a seal was noticed within the Thames by Twickenham and Richmond Lock.
Was this Freddie or simply one in all his pals? It’s laborious to know.
Seals, dolphins and even whales are sometimes noticed alongside stretches of the Thames in south west London, in response to the Zoological Society of London.
The Society has a map of all of the marine mammals seen within the Thames over the previous 12 months, and you can even report a sighting on the web page.
What is obvious is that they’re beloved by residents – and welcome again at any time.
Featured picture credit score: Sue Lindenberg
