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Stop the import and sale of flying rings that cause pain, suffering and death to seals.
The "Save our seals from hollow flying rings" campaign was launched on the 26th of May 2025. Getting your support is very very important. Please click here to sign the petition.
We are seeking your help to join the growing movement to prevent further horrific deaths of these wonderful marine mammals caused by the plastic flying rings many people purchase to play with on holiday. We understand of course that it is not the intention of purchasers to allow their flying rings to end up in the ocean but, sadly, it is a reality for some. If we can educate people to purchase solid discs, spoked rings or even x shaped boomerangs, which would afford them just as much enjoyment, we could prevent many of the terrible injuries and deaths we witness every year as a result of these toys.
For several years now British Divers Marine Life Rescue, the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, SEA LIFE Centres and the RSPCA have seen many casualties here and around the UK. Young seals learn through play and are particularly inquisitive. They will explore these lost toys, which invariably end up floating in the water column, and it is easy for seals (and other marine creatures) to become entangled in this type of flying ring. The rings get stuck over their heads and, as they grow, they suffer terrible injuries over many months and sometimes years, which is a huge welfare issue. Unless rescued their entanglement usually leads to their premature death.
© Photos Credits - Seal Research Trust
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As you may have seen in the news/media during the summer of 2023, a team led by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue with the Seal Research Trust and the Cornish Seal Sanctuary (plus many other helpers) managed to successfully capture an adult female seal called Wings (photo below), who was found with a ring-style frisbee around her neck.
This story has been covered by the international media agencies. Wings, a much-loved wild seal who has frequented St Ives, has been Photo Identified by the Seal Research Trust since 2003. She was spotted being slowly strangled by the plastic ring by members of the public. The ring style frisbee is ultimately fatal as the seal can´t escape from it, and this one was particularly tight despite only being around her neck for a maximum of 2 weeks! Thankfully, the teams were able to remove the ring and ensure Wings could return happily to the wild. Her story went viral on social media.
Wings is one of the lucky ones, however, not all seals have a happy ending. We have evidence of what can happen if a seal dies as a result of entanglement in a flying ring but the photographs are so gruesome, we have not included them here.
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These toys are fine for gardens and parks (away from waterways which could carry them seaward), but if lost on beaches or in rivers they can get washed out to sea where seals and other marine creatures can encounter them.
We are trying to educate everyone about the risks these flying rings pose to wildlife in general and encourage the sale and use of a solid disc, spoked ring or x shaped boomerang as an alternative.
Please think carefully before purchasing a hollow flying ring!
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We have a PDF poster which we would like you to share with your friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues, etc., this would be massively helpful. Click here to download.
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