“Sperm Whale Found D.e.a.d with 13 Pounds of Plastic in Its Stomach.”

A dead sperm whale that washed ashore in eastern Indonesia had consumed a horrifying collection of plastic trash, including 115 drinking cups, 25 plastic bags, plastic bottles, two flip-flops and a bag containing more than 1,000 pieces of string.

In all, the plastic contents of the whale’s stomach weighed 13.2 pound (six kilograms).

The rotting carcass of the 31-foot (9.5-meter) whale was found Monday in shallow waters just off Kapota Island in the Wakatobi

Sperm whale found dead with 13 pounds of plastic in its stomach in Indonesia National Park, according to news reports.

“Although we have not been able to deduce the cause of death, the facts that we see are truly awful,” Dwi Suprati, a marine conservation coordinator at World Wildlife Fund Indonesia told the Associated Press.

Sperm whales normally feed mostly on giant squid, supplemented with octopus, fish, shrimp, crab, and small sharks. They are found throughout all the world’s oceans and are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and considered depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Sperm Whale in Indonesia Found Dead With 13 Pounds of Plastic in Its Stomach

Indonesia, with a population of 263 million people and 34,000 miles (54,716 kilometers) of coastline, ranked second, behind China, on a list of the top 20 worst polluters of plastic trash to the world’s ocean, according to a 2015 study that found 192 coastal countries contribute a combined total of 8.5 million tons of plastic waste to the oceans every year.

Earlier this year, China stopped buying plastic scrap from the rest of the world, disrupting the global recycling industry and shifting the world’s plastic waste crisis to Southeast Asia. (Read more about that here.)

Dead whale in Indonesia had swallowed 1,000 pieces of plastic | CNN

Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s minister of maritime affairs, told the Associated Press that discovery of the whale should help raise awareness about plastic waste and the need to reduce its use. He said the government aims to reduce Indonesia’s plastic use by 70 percent by 2025. He said the government has urged shops to stop providing plastic bags to customers, and has begun an educational program in schools to educate children about the problems of plastic waste.

“I’m so sad to hear this,” he told the Guardian. “It is possible that many other marine animals are contaminated with plastic waste and this is very dangerous for our lives.”

The grim discovery was the second whale to wash ashore with a stomach full of plastic in recent months. Last June, a dying pilot whale was found in the southern province of Songkhla near the Malaysian border. Rescuers worked for five days to revive the mammal, but did not succeed. Just before the whale died, it spit out five plastic bags. An autopsy found another 80 bags and other pieces of plastic trash in the whale’s stomach weighing 17 pounds (eight kilograms).

Yet Another Dead Whale Is Grave Reminder Of Our Massive Plastic Problem

Related Posts

49ers Star Deebo Samuel Surprises His Mom and Brother with a New Car: A Heartwarming Gesture of Gratitude and Love

Deebo Samuel is all about family. The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver proved as much, as he made the day of his mom and younger brother with some beautiful gifts that sent them to tears. Samuel surprised both his mom and little brother with brand new …

Read more

Shocking Moment: Woman Knocked Down by Brutal Punch During NFL Fan Brawl as Chaos Erupts with Two Simultaneous Fights

Sport American Football FOOTAGE of a woman being knocked down with a vicious punch from an NFL fan has gone viral. The incident occurred during one of two violent brawls to break out over the weekend. 5 A woman was hit with a vicious punch by a an NFL …

Read more

Amanda Vance, Die-Hard Steelers Fan, Launches Campaign to Bring Brandon Aiyuk to Pittsburgh: A Bold Effort to Boost the Team

Brandon Aiyuk and Amanda Vance (via @amandacaseyvance/Instagram/Getty Images) Brandon Aiyuk has been involved in trade rumors for a while now. They only heated up after the 49ers lost the Super…

Read more

The Remarkable Evolution of Stefon Diggs: From Underdog to NFL Superstar, Tracing His Journey to the Top

The football rifled out of the jugs machine and came spiraling at young Stefon Diggs. The five-star Diggs could help a college football team at several different spots, but receiver looks…

Read more

Rachel Bush, Wife of Jordan Poyer, Melts Hearts with Adorable Bills Gameday Throwback Featuring Daughter Aliyah

Jordan Poyer has started a new chapter in his life with the Miami Dolphins. Previously with the Buffalo Bills, the safety is now adjusting to a new team and community….

Read more

Bills’ Stefon Diggs Touches Hearts by Gifting Custom Nikes to Young Fan Who Lost His Father in an Emotional Moment

Most know Stefon Diggs as an incredible football player. He’s the Buffalo Bills’ No. 1 receiver and the perfect security blanket for Josh Allen. In fact, the special wideout is undoubtedly…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *