Makeup overdone?

This a shot of a young gray seal in rehab at the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research & Preservation. It's meant for their "adoption" program. I asked them if they curled the eyelashes in pre-shoot makeup. They swore that they didn't.

This lady's tale is not as bad as others. There are a few with "pink necklaces" who were entangled in discarded fishing gear that cuts through fur, skin, and blubber to the flesh. (They recover well after being disentangled from their garrotes.) In this case, otherwise healthy, she picked an unfortunate location to haul out for a nap. A beach in the Hamptons. She had to be taken in for her own protection after a sustained assault by beach goers who judged that the self-aggrandizement of the selfie was more important than the well-being of a wild animal. Or maybe it was for the benefit of the humans. Although looking quite innocent, this species can be particularly hostile and aggressive and has a mouth full of bear-like teeth.

Perhaps a moment of self-reflection is worth taking. Am I as a photographer also exploiting this critter for my own benefit? Where do we draw the line?