Helpers of environmental protection organizations have investigated a sperm whale washed up in Sardinia. The reason for his death should therefore lie inside his stomach. As the environmental organization World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) announced, 22 kilograms of plastic waste were found in the stomach of the marine mammal. According to members of the organization „Sea Me“ the animal was pregnant.
Helpers found in the stomach of the whale, among other plastic plates and cutlery, shopping bags, cotton swabs and the packaging of a detergent – with still legible label.
Already last week, the animal was stranded near the resort of Porto Cervo on the northern coast of Sardinia.
One of the biggest threats to marine life
Italian Environment Minister Sergio Costa told Facebook about the incident: „Is there anyone else who says that these are not major issues?“
According to the WWF, in the past two years at least five whales have been found dead because of plastic inside them. The garbage is one of the biggest threats to marine life, according to the organization.
Only two weeks ago, a young whale with 40 kilograms of plastic had been found in the stomach on the coast of the Philippines. Among other things, the animal had swallowed 16 rice bags made of plastic, four sacks of banana cultivation and several shopping bags, marine biologists reported.
