Killed & injured by plastic pollution: individual animal stories
Warning: Graphic Images. This story feed will be updated throughout May 2019. Last updated: May 31st
One marine mammal or sea bird dies every 30 seconds due to plastic pollution. As our powerful new film #TheCreature reminds us, behind these hard-hitting statistics are individual animals with their own stories. Stories with the power to inspire us to end plastic pollution.
Almost every day we see saddening stories or heart-breaking images of animals all over the world falling victim to the plastic pollution choking our oceans. Inspired by the mysterious #TheCreature, this month we will be collecting and sharing the stories of individual animals maimed or killed by plastic pollution. Bookmark this page and check back, as we’ll be adding animals’ stories throughout May.
Telling individual stories capture our hearts and minds in a way that statistics can’t. If these heart-breaking stories inspire you to act on plastic pollution sign our urgent petition.
If you spot a story of an animal impacted by plastic pollution, please tag it with hashtag #TheCreature on social media – as we’ll be looking for creatures to add to this page.
Last updated: May 31st. Creatures documented so far: 1039+
16:10 May 31st 2019
“…one of the worst cases of entanglement we have seen anywhere in the world due to the extreme nature of his injuries” – BDMLR’s North Cornwall Assistant Coordinator Michelle Robinson-Clement
Our last story of the month is the most heartbreaking! On the 27th May 2019 volunteers from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network (CWTMSN) were called out to a grey seal that had died as a result of severe entanglement in 35kg of material.
We don’t want to show pictures on this story feed as the injuries the seal sustained are very upsetting.
You can read more here – PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE IMAGES OF THE SEAL ARE EXTREMELY DISTRESSING!!!
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11:45 May 30th 2019
Young Herring Gull photographed trailling marine plastic pollution from its leg as it flies over Mounts Bay, Cornwall
Marine Discovery share photos with us of a young Herring Gull with fishing line wrapped around its leg. They tell us it was “towing an increasing collection of vegetation behind it. It may well lose its leg which would probably be the best thing. You see a lot of one legged gulls hopping around.”
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16:52 May 29th 2019
Seal photographed off Norfolk Coast with ghost gear wrapped around its neck
Photographer Geoff Smith contacted local seal rescue charity Friends of Horsey Seals who have been keeping an eye on its progress, but say as yet they haven’t bene able to catch up with the seal to remove the netting.
Blonde seal faces being strangled by a fishing net in Norfolk https://t.co/KJ73LpZwgG via @MailOnline
— Nature Alert (@naturealert3) May 28, 2019
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11:26 May 28th 2019
Octopus found living in a plastic cup
Coconut Octopus given a new home by a diver after being found off Lembeh in Indonesia. Pall Sigurdsson said: “We spent a whole dive and most of our air saving this octopus from what was bound to be a cruel fate. Coconut octopus are famous for being very picky about which shells they keep so we had to try with many different shells before it found one to be acceptable.” Watch the video here.
#maritimenews The Octopus Who Lived In A Plastic Cup On The Floor Of The Ocean Finds A New Home (VIDEO)… https://t.co/FpJHOwt4MM
— Maritime Herald (@MaritimeHerald) May 16, 2019
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10:11 May 27th 2019
Young grey seal found entangled in builder’s bulk bag
A young seal is recovering at the RSPCA’s East Winch Wildlife Centre after being found with a builder’s bulk bag over her head. “Just when you think you have seen everything seals can get entangled in, we had a new one in recently,” RSPCA Wildlife writes.
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9:08 May 26th 2019
Mallard duck dies from plastic bottle ring lodged in mouth
All Species Kinship (A.S.K) found a mallard duck with a plastic bottle ring lodged in his mouth in Michigan. Sadly, the weakened duck died from his injuries – as he was unable to feed. “It was an horrific experience for him for the last week, trying to eat, with no way to open his mouth,” A.S.K says.
A.S.K hopes the duck’s death will be a wake-up call on single-use plastic pollution: “We are pleading for you to care more because lives are being lost. No one deserves to die with a piece of plastic suffocating them…Please do not let his death be in vein.”
Mallard duck found with plastic bottle ring lodged in mouth (source: All Species Kinship)
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10:55 May 24th 2019
More gannets affected by plastic!
On a trip around the Skellig Islands, Wildlife Photographer and Conservationist Ronald Surgenor took these images of a gannet colony surrounded by plastic. There are thousands of birds in this colony and most of the individuals in these images have plastic incorporated into their nests.
The saddest sight of the holiday came on our boat-trip out around the Skellig islands, watching the stunning spectacle of thousands of Gannets sitting on the nest ledges, but look closely, plastic pollution taking its toll already and the chicks not even born yet. pic.twitter.com/5r6a91Vnx8
— Ronald Surgenor (@RonaldSurgenor) May 12, 2019
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16:23 May 23rd 2019
A dead Gannet is found tangled in string from balloons on a Virginia beach.
It prompts a call from the beach-goer who found the bird to find another way to celebrate, one that doesn’t threaten wildlife.
Balloon release leaves bird dead
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10:15 May 22nd 2019
Warning: Graphic Content. Young sperm whale found dead in Sicily with stomach full of plastic.
Greenpeace Italia issue a rallying call after the second whale in as many months washes up on the coast with plastic in its system, saying: “We can’t pretend that nothing is happening. There have been five sperm whales in the last five months. The sea is sending us an alarm cry, a desperate SOS.” Read more here
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13:39 May 21st 2019
Second dolphin in a month is found dead at Fort Myers in Florida, having swallowed plastic.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute finds a 24-inch hose in the esophagus and forestomach of the animal during the necropsy.
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11:03 May 20th 2019
Loggerhead turtle found entangled with rope and plastic floats
The biologists who spotted the turtle were eventually able to free the animal and allow it swim away.
These researchers came across a rare loggerhead turtle trapped while they were travelling to conduct research dives. Within minutes, they were able to set the animal free.
Find out how you can help the #OceanRescue campaign here: https://t.co/BrHFmqHtvi pic.twitter.com/HQglKyPcbL
— Sky Zero (@SkyZeroOfficial) May 15, 2019
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12:08 May 17th 2019
Warning: graphic content. Minke whale caught in ropes on the NW coast of Scotland
The juvenile whale was found with its head entangled, which probably resulted in the animal drowning.
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09:44 May 16th 2019
Turtle passes a carrier bag after being rescued from fishing nets off the Argentinian coast
Mundo Marino foundation ran blood tests after finding out the turtle was underweight. Results didn’t show any problems, but hours later the turtle began to pass plastic. Read the full story and watch video by clicking here. Warning: graphic content
There’s still a collective denial about the impact of plastic on the ocean. Many of those impacts are still unknown and will reveal themselves in the coming years with shocking implications for the human race. We must act now, or face the consequences. https://t.co/FqhsHKMVrq
— Blue Planet Society (@Seasaver) 14 May 2019
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10:39 May 15th 2019
Diver frees fish from plastic bag in the Andaman Ocean in Thailand
Nat Senmuang was diving with friends when she noticed the fish barely breathing inside the plastic pollution in Phuket, southern Thailand.
A diving instructor noticed a fish trapped inside a transparent plastic bag in Andaman ocean in #Thailand. She rescued the fish by setting it free.
More than 1 million sea creatures are killed every year by #plastic_pollution.
Video by: Nat Senmueang pic.twitter.com/rS3Z4BdmhM— Planet Goodwill (@PlanetGoodwill) 24 February 2019
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15:09 May 14th 2019
Seal pup surrounded by plastic pollution in a North Cornwall cove
Cornish Seal Sanctuary call for us to reduce, reuse, recycle and take part in beach cleans after a supporter takes shocking images of a seal pup surrounded by plastic bottles and polystyrene.
Not the nicest post. These photographs are extremely sad to see. We get pups in every year who’ve been affected by ocean litter; getting entangled in it and suffering from life threatening injuries. Dispose of your rubbish properly, reduce, reuse, recycle and join us for cleans. pic.twitter.com/HuVnOiGiSv
— CornishSealSanctuary (@Seal_Sanctuary) May 13, 2019
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12:11 May 13th 2019
Turtle found with plastic rope tangled around one of its flippers
Oceana Europe shared this footage of the turtle and managed to remove the rope, allowing it to swim off unencumbered.
https://twitter.com/OceanaEurope/status/1121012461673615363
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18:47 May 12th 2019
Pink Sea Fans discovered with various plastic debris attached
The Lego Lost at Sea campaign says it finds examples of plastic pollution wrapped around this species of soft coral almost daily.
Almost every day we find these pink sea fans (a species of soft coral) washed up, draped in debris. The 1st here – a magnificent specimen probably 40 years old – has black fish net tights attached. Others have beads, line & twine & bits of bags #EunicellaVerrucosa #seafangle pic.twitter.com/uriojRS0gv
— Lego Lost At Sea (@LegoLostAtSea) May 9, 2019
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20:44 May 11th 2019
2 turtle hatchlings found dead with microplastics in gut
South African Shark Conservancy found microplastics in the guts of two turtle hatchlings washed up on a beach. They write the turtles had “ingested significant amounts of small plastic pellets. This likely contributed to their mortality.”
Two turtle hatchlings found dead with plastic in their guts. Image from: South African Shark Conservancy
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14:43 May 10th 2019
At the start of the Shag breeding season in Cornwall, 3 of 7 active nests were found to contain plastic
Ornithologist and photographer Keith Cowieson photographed Shag nests in Cornwall with plastic incorporated in them. This poses a threat to both adults and chicks which can become entangled in this artificial nesting material.
Prompted by nest recorder Simon @BTO_Cornwall visited small local shag colony to check breeding. 7 active & 3 trace nests. Sadly, 3 of 7 active nests had plastic incorporated. Data forwarded to @Nina_OHanlon @Alimantado @DEBALMER @KittiwakeGirl @JNCC_UKseabirds @_AndyClements pic.twitter.com/8cYApYC0II
— Keith Cowieson (@KCowieson) April 8, 2019
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16:21 May 9th 2019
Plastic pollution on Grassholm Island in Wales is described as a ‘living hell’ for birds
Photographer Sam Hobson takes images of a gannet trapped in a net eight miles off Pembrokeshire. Experts estimate there are 20 tonnes of plastic on Grassholme Island. Read more here
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14:06 May 8th 2019
Adult grey seal found with wounds from plastic frisbee around his neck
Sir David the seal – named after wildlife broadcaster Attenborough – is being rehabilitated by the RSPCA, after being found with awful wounds from a plastic frisbee stuck around his neck.
Alarmingly, he’s the third seal found with wounds from a plastic ring in Norfolk in less than two years.
Alison Charles, manager of the RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Hospital in Norfolk caring for Sir David, said the seal is “showing a lot of improvement in himself, although his wound is still going to take months to properly heal”.
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10:46 May 8th 2019
Paromola cuvieri Crab carries plastic underwater, Mallorca, Spain
Oceana Europe share sad images of this carrier crab holding up plastic, as part of its natural defence mechanism
So many animals suffer from plastic pollution in the deepest depths of our oceans. 😔
It’s time to #BreakFreeFromPlastic!
📽️ : © Oceana
📍: Mallorca, Spain
🦀: Paromola cuvieri pic.twitter.com/2Ur82t8uA8— Oceana Europe (@OceanaEurope) 16 April 2019
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12:07 May 7th 2019
Underweight seal pup found at Trevellas Porth in Cornwall had eaten two plastic bags
British Divers Marine Life Rescue team member Lizzie Larbalestier shares the story of ‘Brian May’, who luckily made a full recovery.
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16:15 May 6th 2019
Turtles found injured and dead after entanglement
Marine Biologist Jade Getliff shares examples of entanglement from her conservation work with turtles
GRAPHIC IMAGES
Inspired by @sascampaigns #TheCreature I want to share just 4 cases of #bycatch & #entanglement I have seen working in #turtle #conservation, both of the hatchlings in these images survived (many did not) the juveniles perished in fishing nets before we could help pic.twitter.com/l4AmTyiZsL— Jade Getliff (@MarineBioJade) May 5, 2019
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18:03 May 5th 209
Dolphin found dead in Indian River, Florida
The results of the post examination prompts a call for people to recycle fishing gear.
This weekend our marine mammal stranding team and volunteers responded to a dolphin found dead in the Indian River. The animal was picked up and given a thorough exam, fishing gear was identifiable around the mouth and found inside the dolphin during necropsy. pic.twitter.com/IKWnWOjao2
— Hubbs Marine Mammal Stranding (@HubbsMMS) April 8, 2019
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13:36 May 4th 2019
Guillemot with a lure caught in its beak, Mounts Bay, Cornwall
Marine Discovery, Penzance: “This poor guillemot has dived down on a lure which it thought was a sandeel, and got the hook stuck on its beak. It looks horribly uncomfortable and will starve to death.”
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20:57 May 3rd 2019
Tangled gannet found between Mousehole and Newlyn, Cornwall
@debi_tr shared on Twitter: “Let’s try and prevent this”
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10:12 May 3rd 2019
Tangled Guillemot at Perranporth, Cornwall
Christopher Easton: “I found this on Perranporth beach this morning. I took the net home untangled & cut the guillemot out, kept the net & buried the guillemot. The net was obviously the cause of death. It was tightly tangled by its struggles.”
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14:48 May 2nd 2019
Baby Rough Toothed Dolphin Strands in Florida
The death prompts a call to reduce single use plastic and to not release balloons into the environment.
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Humpback Whale Washes Up in Lothian
Investigation found this animal had definitely been entangled in rope for several weeks if not months.
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Pregnant Sperm Whale in Sardinia
“This must make us take responsibility for our actions to come: if our actions will drive the Sperm Whale population in the Mediterranean Sea to extinction, the very same actions will also drive our own species to extinction.” Andrea Morello, President, Sea Shepherd Italia.
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These are just the ones we know about, and the species we are familiar with. Did you know …
Scientists estimate that there are 8 undiscovered whale and dolphin species that we haven’t yet discovered.
- In 2014, a new river dolphin was discovered, as was the Australian humpback dolphin.
- In 2016, NatGeo reported that a new beaked whale species was discovered in Alaska.
- Just recently, it was reported that 700 new blue whales were discovered in New Zealand. They are genetically different than other blue whales, and local to just their area.
What can we do?
#GenerationSea is a new movement we’re building to save and secure the future of our oceans and beaches.
If you join #GenerationSea you’ll be able to help us with a range of actions including signing and sharing petitions, contacting your MP, collecting evidence from shorelines and promoting the campaign on social media.
We’re seizing this unique moment in the UK to push for a bold new Environment Bill that will truly protect our seas and sands from threats like plastic pollution and the impacts of climate change.
Click Here To Join #GenerationSea
Marine Strandings
Please remember that our role in protecting oceans and sea life is as a campaigning organisation, we do not rescue animals. There are many fantastic animal rescue organisations to contact if you find an animal in distress, who may be able to direct you to sources of help.
In the UK:
The UK Cetacean Stranding’s Investigation Programme – more information here
The Wildlife Trusts – more information here
SeaWatch Foundation – more information here
The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme – more information here
International Information: