In recent months, there has been a disturbing trend of whales washing up on beaches around the world with their stomachs full of plastic. This is a global crisis that is affecting all sea life, and it is only getting worse.
Whales Washing Up with Plastic in Their Stomachs
In November 2022, a sperm whale was found dead on the shores of Indonesia with 13 pounds of plastic in its stomach. The trash included more than 100 plastic cups, four plastic bottles, 25 plastic bags, two flip-flops, and countless other pieces of plastic.
In February 2023, a young male sperm whale was found dead on the shores of Spain with 65 pounds of plastic trash in its stomach. The plastic was so compacted that it was beginning to rip apart the whale’s guts from the inside.
In March 2023, a whale was found dead in the Philippines with 88 pounds of plastic in its body. The plastic in some areas was so compact that it was almost becoming calcified, almost like a solid brick.
These are just a few of the many cases of whales washing up with plastic in their stomachs. This crisis is happening all over the world, and it is only getting worse.
Other Sea Life at Risk
Whales are not the only sea life that is at risk from plastic ingestion. All sea life, from tiny plankton to giant sea turtles, can be affected by plastic pollution.
In 2014, a video was released showing albatrosses on Midway Island, a remote island in the Pacific Ocean, that were stuffed with plastic trash. The birds had mistaken the plastic for food, and they were dying from starvation.
OceanCrusaders.org estimates that over 100,000 marine animals are killed each year from plastic ingestion. About 1 million seabirds die from plastic each year.
The Global Plastic Problem
The problem of plastic pollution is global. There are at least five known trash pile-ups in the Earth’s oceans, the largest being the Great North Pacific Gyre, which is more than twice the size of the United States.
This plastic trash continues to break down into microscopic pieces, which are being found in the fish that humans consume. Plastic also contains endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can harm human health.
What Can We Do?
We need to take action now to protect our oceans and ourselves from the plastic pollution crisis. Here are a few things that we can do:
- Reduce our use of single-use plastics;
- Recycle all of our plastic waste properly;
- Support businesses that are committed to reducing plastic pollution;
- Get involved in campaigns to raise awareness of the problem and advocate for solutions.
The plastic pollution crisis is a serious threat to our planet and our health. We need to act now to protect our oceans and ourselves.
Conclusion
The alarming trend of whales washing up on beaches with their stomachs full of plastic is a stark reminder of the global plastic pollution crisis. This crisis is not only affecting whales but all marine life, from tiny plankton to giant sea turtles.
The problem is compounded by the fact that plastic pollution is a global problem. There are at least five known trash pile-ups in the Earth’s oceans, the largest being the Great North Pacific Gyre, which is more than twice the size of the United States. This plastic trash continues to break down into microscopic pieces, which are being found in the fish that humans consume. Plastic also contains endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can harm human health.
