Earlier this year, a young sperm whale washed ashore in Murcia, Spain, and researchers were eager to determine the cause of its death. Upon examining its stomach, they discovered more than 30 kg (66 lb) of plastic waste.
The ten‑meter animal had ingested a shocking array of debris—straw wrappers, plastic bags, fishing twine and nets, a drum rope, a water container, and even remnants of marine life. This was particularly distressing given that sperm whales normally prey on creatures like giant squid, octopuses, small sharks, and other marine species.
Scientists concluded that the whale likely suffered from a digestive disorder, unable to process or expel the plastic it had consumed.
Consuelo Rosauro, Director General of the Environment in Murcia, warned that plastic pollution in our oceans poses “one of the greatest threats” to marine plants and animals. Many creatures become entangled in debris or inadvertently swallow it, often with fatal consequences.
Currently, about 150 million tons of plastic drift in our oceans, with an additional 8 million tons entering the marine environment each year.
