Scientists were eager to learn what killed the juvenile sperm whale that washed up on a Spanish beach earlier this year. After discovering more than 30 kg (66 pounds) of plastic trash in its gut, they believe they have the answer.
The ten-meter whale was stranded on the shores of Cabo de Palos in the Spanish region of Murcia.
Although sperm whales often eat huge squid, octopuses, small sharks, and other marine life, this whale had eaten straw packets, plastic bags, twine, nets, a drum rope, a water container, and other sea life.
Because the whale was unable to digest or eliminate the waste from its body, experts concluded that it most likely had a stomach-related condition.
According to Consuelo Rosauro, Director General of the Environment in Murcia, “the presence of plastic in our waters and oceans is one of the greatest threats to the protection of flora and fauna, as many animals become trapped in the waste or ingest large amounts of plastic material, which ultimately leads to their death.”
Our oceans already contain over 150 million tons of plastic, and each year, 8 million additional tons are added.
