Injured seal pup Joker has had the last laugh after making a full recovery and returning to the wild.
The little seal was badly injured by ghost netting and found with deep wounds in his neck.
The discarded fishing equipment is so nicknamed because it is often nearly invisible in the dim light.
Joker was rescued near Newquay by kind-hearted volunteers when he was just ten weeks old and taken to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, where he was nursed back to health.
Yesterday the story came full circle when he was released back into the wild.
Joker makes his way into the sea. Image: Cornish Seal Sanctuary/SWNS
A spokesperson for the sanctuary said: "He was found high on the rocks at Towan head.
"Members of the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust and British Divers Marine Life Rescue Medics were able to capture and carefully remove the monofilament net.
"He had a large laceration on top of his neck but also facial trauma from attempting to bite his way out of the net.
"He was transferred to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary where he received the medical care needed to recover from his injuries and gain weight in order to be released back into the wild.
"Thankfully, Joker recovered well at the sanctuary and has now been released back into the wild."
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