The whales’ deaths are symbolic of humanity’s shocking disregard for marine life.
In January, 29 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 disturbed by 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 piece of 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 marine life, 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 Conservation echoed 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. Its stomach was so distended, biologists thought the animal swallowed a giant squid. However, when its four stomachs were dissected, nearly 100 plastic bags and other pieces of debris were found.
It should be noted that the plastic is not what killed the young male sperm whales. According to National Geographic, they died of heart failure. This was a result of mistakenly swimming into the North Sea, likely in search of squid, and then not being able to support their own body weights in the shallow water. As a result, their internal organs collapsed.
Regardless, the fact that many of their stomachs were full of pollution is a horrible indictment of humans. As has been reported in the past, 80% of the plastic which is discarded on land ends up in the oceans, where it is consumed by wildlife or swirls for years in great garbage patches. The fact that mankind – a species with a smaller brain than a whale – is responsible for such a travesty is ironic and saddening.
Until humans learn the value of living sustainably while respecting all life forms, travesties such as this one will continue to take place.
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All I can do is weep when I see this
Don’t weep, take responsibility of fixing this n go vegan..
Going vegan is environmentally unsustainable. It’s just as ridiculous as going all carnivore.
How is being vegan environmentally unsustainable? Can you please explain, and include references. I assume you are leaning on facts when you claim such a thing?
Go vegan? That doesn’t help whales. Even if all the world were vegan and still produce all that garbage we were here watching this news and comment it.
absolutely!
Going vegan isn’t going to help the whales. We don’t eat them..at least most countries don’t. Most are protected – at least until Japan finds them.
LMAO exactly how will not using animal products reduce plastics? Vegans create MORE plastics and pesticides. You are an idiot.
you dont see, if you go vegan you dont need to use a car, because they fly. How going vegan change the fact of whales having plastic and car part on their stomach.
The beautiful world as we know it is over. So sad, so sad… This image makes me weep.
Either improving plastic degradability or improve humanity
Plastic in the ocean is a whale of a problem.
If governments made making new plastic products illegal & allowed all this free floating plastic to be allowed to be used as a mining resource, the corporations will be more than willing to clean it up for financial gain! Maybe a law that made all recycled plastics to be made into biodegradable or separated for use on deposit/refund type thing like glass.
The time is now ore never, stand up and unite The world. Take personal freechoiches against all cruelty.
Humans are stupid but not that stupid. Killing ourselfes are stupid.
Absolutely heartbreaking 🙁 humans are a virus on this planet. The damage done to the earth in the last 150 years is mind boggling and disgraceful
Hemp…no other words
Get businesses shops etc to take back their rubbish, main things are plastic covers, liners, pouches, when you go shopping don’t stick your food and veg into the plastic bags provided take them as they are then wash them like in the old days, I have started to recycle everything but what is left sadly are the plastic bags
This is shocking,, so so wrong,, what are we doing to this planet apart from ruining it,,shame on humans
Everyone is responsible for littering out waterways & oceans, but don’t forget about the tsunamis that drag into the oceans deadly chemicals & materials that are deadly & are never biodegradable …it’s so sad
we should get rid off all the politicians and corporate leaders so we could save the earth from horrible disaster. a mass riots all over the world to throw of the current leaders and let the real citizen to get the world to peace finally
How would I be able to help with cleaning are oceans? I’m about to move to California so any way I can help around the area would be great to know.
Plastics is not the problem people are the problem. Reuse and recycle should be mandatory.
Stronger laws and punishment should be unforced for littering.