Rescuers Search for Seal that Got its Mouth Stuck in a Can in Northern Ireland

Rescuers are desperately trying to find a seal that got its mouth stuck on a discarded Red Bull can.

Onlookers alerted lifeboat teams after the marine mammal was spotted with the empty drink container dumped by a litter bug.

Search and rescue teams and harbour police launched a search for the seal after it was seen to be in distress and swam off.

Rescuers are desperately trying to find a seal that got its mouth stuck on a discarded Red Bull can

But their efforts were in vain and they were unable to fend off the River Lagan in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Andrew Wolsey was among locals to spot the seal.

He said: ‘It may look funny but it’s really not. The tin can is stuck on its lower jaw.’

Onlookers alerted lifeboat teams after the marine mammal was spotted with the empty drink container dumped by a litter bug

Rescue teams tried their best but unfortunately it evaded capture and the rescue has been called off for the night.’If you litter you’re a scumbag.’

A Lagan Search and Rescue spokesperson said: ‘We went out to try and help a slightly different part of the community than we normally deal with.’

Search and rescue teams and harbour police launched a search for the seal after it was seen to be in distress and swam off

You are going to spook it and make an already nervous animal even more scared and hinder the rescue attempts.’

A Lagan Search and Rescue spokesperson said: ‘We went out to try and help a slightly different part of the community than we normally deal with’

Andrew Wolsey was among locals to spot the seal and said ‘you’re a scumbag’ if you litter

A spokesperson for Debbie Doolittle’s Wild Life, also involved in the rescue, said: ‘I think this guy should be named either Rocket or Houdini. It reappeared at the slipway.

‘Before the team had boats close enough, it seems it got spooked by other seals and went to water again.

‘It may be a case that once it’s gone a few days without food and is a bit weaker and not as quick to get away that’s the chance to catch it.’ Please stay away. Do not approach it. Do not crowd around taking pics and videos.

‘You are going to spook it and make an already nervous animal even more scared and hinder the rescue attempts.’

And this is not the first time litter has impacted the seal population around the UK. Pictures of a seal wearing plastic swimming goggles it picked up at sea sparked warnings from nature lovers about the dangers of pollution.

Pictures of a seal wearing plastic swimming goggles it picked up at sea sparked warnings from nature lovers about the dangers of pollution

The animal was snapped as it lay beside the sea at Horsey Beach in Norfolk.

John Boyle, 58, took the photo on a day trip to the beach on September 20. Two years ago, MailOnline reported a blonde seal was also found on Horsey Beach half-strangled by a sea net which had cut into its neck.

In 2019, a seal nicknamed Mrs Vicar was pictured with a plastic frisbee stuck around its neck amongst the colony on the beach at Horsey in Norfolk