ALTEA, Spain — Spanish veterinarians were able to treat an injured seal with antibiotics fired from a blowgun. The unusual injection method was needed as the seal was skittish and difficult to catch in the water.
The gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) was first spotted at a marina in the city of Altea in the Spanish province of Alicante on Dec. 10, according to a press release from Valencia-based Oceanographic Foundation.
Veterinarians called to the scene noticed that the animal appeared to be ailing from some sort of exposure to ocean waste, but were not able to identify the exact injury or what caused it. They hoped to help the wounded animal but were unable to capture it to do so, as it swiftly swam away whenever it was approached.
