Whale's Death: Plastic Pollution's Real-Life Horror Story

Plastic pollution is a growing problem for whales. Since the 1970s, an increasing number of whales have died from consuming plastic. In February 2023, a sperm whale washed up on a beach in Hawaii with plastic debris in its stomach. It likely died from intestinal blockage caused by eating large volumes of plastic, fishing nets, and other marine debris. In another incident, a whale in the Philippines was found to have more than 88 pounds of plastic waste in its belly. It likely died of starvation and dehydration as a result of the plastic stuffing its belly. As the plastic pollution crisis worsens, more whales are expected to suffer a similar fate.

A whale died with 88 pounds of plastic in its stomach

A young male curvier beaked whale died with 88 pounds of plastic in its stomach. The whale was about 15 feet long and weighed 1,100 pounds. It likely died of starvation and dehydration brought on by the plastic stuffing its belly.

Whales absorb water from the food they eat, and there was no sign that any food had made it into its intestines for many days. Its stomach acid, unable to break down the plastic waste, had worn holes through its stomach lining. This is a common issue for marine mammals, as the ocean has become a plastic-filled minefield. As the plastic pollution crisis grows, more and more dolphins, whales, birds, and fish are found dead with their stomachs full of plastic.

The whale was spotted in the Davao Gulf, Philippines, vomiting blood and listing badly as it swam. Marine mammal expert and curator at the D’Bone Collector Museum in Davao City, Darrell Blatchley, performed a necropsy on the whale and found plastic bursting out of its stomach.

Another whale that washed ashore in Hawaii in 2023 also died with plastic in its stomach. Scientists suspect that the whale died from an intestinal blockage caused by large volumes of plastic, fishing nets, and other marine debris.

Whales are negatively impacted by pollution, boat traffic, ocean acidification, and rising ocean temperatures

Whales are dying from plastic pollution. In 2023, a sperm whale washed up on a beach in Hawaii with plastic bags, fishing nets, and other marine debris in its stomach. It likely died from an intestinal blockage. In the Philippines, a whale was found vomiting blood and listing badly as it swam. It was brought to a lab for a necropsy, where it was found to have 88 pounds of plastic waste in its belly. The curator at the D’Bone Collector Museum in Davao City, Darrell Blatchley, said, "Plastic was just bursting out of its stomach". The whale likely died of starvation and dehydration brought on by the plastic stuffing its belly. Its stomach acid, unable to break down the plastic waste, had worn holes through its stomach lining. As the plastic pollution crisis grows, more and more whales are found dead with their stomachs full of plastic.

Boat traffic also negatively impacts whales. Whaling, or hunting, takes place in some parts of the world, such as Norway and Japan, and is a human cause of whale deaths.

Ocean acidification and rising ocean temperatures are further threats to whales. These issues are caused by pollution and contribute to the declining health of whale populations.

Whales absorb water from the food they eat, and plastic in their stomachs can cause dehydration

In another case, a sperm whale washed ashore in Hawaii with plastic debris, fishing nets, and plastic bags in its stomach. Scientists suspect the whale died from an intestinal blockage caused by the large volumes of plastic and other marine debris it had eaten.

As the plastic pollution crisis grows, more and more whales, dolphins, birds, and fish are found dead with their stomachs full of plastic. Whales are negatively impacted by pollution, boat traffic, ocean acidification, and rising ocean temperatures. At least 70 whales die each year from human causes, and the number of whale deaths is growing.

Whales are starving because they are unable to eat real food

Another whale, a young male about 15 feet long and weighing 1,100 pounds, likely died of starvation and dehydration brought on by the plastic stuffing its belly. Its stomach acid, unable to break down the plastic waste, had worn holes through its stomach lining instead.

Whales absorb water from the food they eat, and there was no sign that any food had made it into the whale's intestines for many days. This is a growing problem, as at least 70 whales die each year from human causes, including plastic pollution.

The number of whale deaths from plastic is growing

In February 2023, a dead sperm whale washed ashore in Hawaii with plastic debris, fishing nets, and other marine debris in its stomach. Scientists suspect that the whale died from an intestinal blockage caused by consuming large volumes of plastic and other debris. Similarly, in the Philippines, a young male curvier beaked whale was found to have more than 88 pounds of plastic waste in its stomach when it died. The whale likely died of starvation and dehydration brought on by the plastic stuffing its belly. Its stomach acid, unable to break down the plastic waste, had worn holes through its stomach lining.

These cases highlight the growing threat that plastic pollution poses to whale populations. As more plastic enters the ocean, the risk of whale deaths from plastic ingestion increases. It is crucial to address the plastic pollution crisis and reduce the amount of plastic waste entering the ocean to protect whales and other marine life.

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