Twenty-nine sperm whales were found
stranded on shores around the North Sea, an
area that is too shallow for the marine
wildlife.
Only recently were details of the animals’
necropsy released. However, scientists were
deeply disturbedby what they found in the
animals’ stomachs.
According to a press release from Wadden
Sea National Park in Schleswig-Holstein,
many of the whales had stomachs FULL of
plastic debris, including a 13-meter-long
fishing net, a 70 cm pieceof plastic from a car
and other pieces of plastic litter.
Some suggest that the animals thought the
items were food, such as squid, which is their
main staple.
Others, however, believe that the travesty is
largely a result of humanity’s shocking
disregard for marinelife, which has resulted in
an overabundance of plastic in the
oceans.Said Robert Habeck, environment
minister for the state of Schleswig-Holstein:
These findings show us the results of our
plastic-oriented society.
Animals inadvertently consume plastic and
plastic waste, which causes them to suffer,
and at worst, causes them to starve with full
stomachs.Nicola Hodgkins of Whale and
Dolphin Conservationechoed that statement.
She stated:
Although the large pieces will cause obvious
problems and block the gut, we shouldn’t
dismiss the smaller bits that could cause a
more chronic problem for all species of
cetacean – not just those who suction feed.
This isn’t the first time a sperm whale has
been found dead with innards full of inedible
contents. In 2011, a young whale was found
floating dead off the Greek island of Mykonos.
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