whale dies in thailand after eating more than 80 plastic bags

a pilot whale has died after swallowing more than 80 plastic bags after being found barely alive in a canal near thailand’s border with malaysia. following a rescue attempt and several days of treatment, an autopsy later revealed the near 18lbs (8kg) of waste in the creature’s stomach.

images courtesy of the DMCR

the death was disclosed in details released by thailand’s department of marine and coastal resources on saturday. it has been reported since that a team of rescuers tried to stabilise the whale which had been treated over several days.

earlier this year designboom reported that a sperm whale found washed up on the southern coast of spain in february was caused by 64 pounds of plastic debris ingested by the mammal. whale deaths caused by ocean pollution continue to devastate, drawing attention to much needed changes in humanity. in the UK it was recently announced that the country’s environment agency will check 400 beaches weekly in a bid to tackle plastic waste, as well as committing to a ban on single-use plastic items, something the european union is pushing across the board.