Article Written By: Kyle Kyungwon Park
Recently, scientists have discovered what they believe is a record amount of plastic in the stomach of a whale that unfortunately died in the Philippines. According to researchers and biologists, the animal was undernourished had been constantly vomiting blood.
An examination after the death of the whale revealed that 40kg of plastic waste was evident in its stomach. The toxic waste included several shopping bags, banana plantation bags, and approximately 16 rice sacks. The examination results signaled urgent messages for the Philippines government to take consequential actions against individuals throwing away plastic into the ocean.
According to Greenpeace, a non-governmental organization that protects the lives of animals, the Philippines are the third-worst polluter of oceans after China and Indonesia. Alongside Vietnam and Thailand, the nations relate to around 60 percent of the plastic garbage that eventually ends up in the ocean.
The hopeless whale in this brutal predicament was a Cuvier's beaked whale (4.7m long) and had layers of plastic stuffed inside the stomach. In previous years, experts working for the D'Bone Museum in the Philippines has recovered 61 whales and dolphins. Nonetheless, the experts stated without doubt that their recent discovery was the most plastic they have ever seen inside a whale.
Additionally, Marine biologist Darrell Blatchley stated, "Upon reaching the stomach I knew this whale had died due to plastic ingestion. Yet, I was not prepared for the amount of plastic."
The certified biologist continued by saying, "The Philippines needs to change from the children up or nothing will be left." Not long after the shocking incident, the museum posted on social media: "It's utterly disgusting! Actions must be taken immediately against those who continue to treat the environment in the same disrespectful way!"
Bibliography (MLA 8 FORMAT):
Website Citations:
Website 1:
Asia, BBC. “Dead Philippines Whale Had 40kg of Plastic in Stomach.” BBC News, BBC, 18 Mar. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47608949.
Website 2:
Dalton @JournoJane, Jane. “Whale Starved to Death with Record Heap of Plastic in Stomach.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 19 Mar. 2019, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/whale-plastic-waste-stomach-philippines-dead-starved-a8828626.html.
Photo Citations:
Photo 1:
Dalton @JournoJane, Jane. “Whale Starved to Death with Record Heap of Plastic in Stomach.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 19 Mar. 2019, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/whale-plastic-waste-stomach-philippines-dead-starved-a8828626.html.