This sperm whale would have lived a much longer life if it not had been for waste and pollution. The reason the whale died was due to the huge accumulation of plastic in his stomach... 29 kilos to be exact!
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According to the Murcia authorities, the animal washed up on a beach in the southern coast of Spain. It was about ten metres long. During their autopsy, the experts at the El Valle Wildlife Recovery Centre made a shocking discovery in the animal's stomach. They found over 29 kilos of plastic inside the animal's stomach. Bags, pieces of nets and ropes, and even a jerrycan. These items were surely the cause of the death of the animal.
A deadly infection
According to scientists, all the waste that was found in the animal's digestive system was responsible for his death. There was a severe infection in his abdomen called peritonitis. This condition is often fatal.
Consuelo Rosauro, the general manager in charge of the natural environment stated 'The presence of plastics in the seas and oceans is one of the greatest threats to wildlife preservation around the world, as many animals are trapped in waste or ingest large amounts of plastic that eventually cause their death'. He also stated, 'The region of Murcia is no stranger to this problem, which we must attack with clean-up actions and, above all, an awareness of the citizens'.
Not the first case of death by pollution
The sperm whale is not the first cetacean to die due to waste and pollution. In February 2017, in Norway, the autopsy of a stranded Cuvier whale revealed thirty plastic bags in its stomach. The 29 kilograms of plastic that was found inside the whale's stomach might not seem like a lot considering that there is about 8 million tons of plastic waste created in the world every year.
How can we stop and prevent pollution?
The government in this region has just launched an awareness campaign on the dangers of disposable plastics. An initiative that, hopefully, will help stem marine mammal strandings, which are increasing and becoming more and more common around the world. In England, there is a small tax for buying plastic bags which has led to a reduction in their consumption of nearly 80%.
According to Thomas Maes, marine litter specialist at the UK's Environmental Science, Fisheries and Aquaculture Center, (Cefas), says he is optimistic: 'It's encouraging to see that the efforts of all in our society, be it the general public, industry, NGOs or the government, to reduce plastic bags have an effect'.
Efforts will have to be stepped up if we are to avoid the prediction that there may be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050. Despite their imposing size, marine animals definitely do not have the weight face this pernicious threat.
