Impact of plastic bags on wildlife death

You can save the wildlife of the planet by doing as easy as using a reusable shopping bag. A devastating number of turtles, birds, whales and other animals are killed each year because the plastic bags were mistaken for food like jellyfish. When a plastic bag is ingested by an animal, it cannot be digested and therefore stays in the animal’s intestines, preventing the digestion of other foods, being extremely painful and slowly dying.

Plastic bags can literally take 1000 years to break, so after one animal eats plastic and dies and rots, the plastic is left behind and can be ingested by another.

Turtle hood

Approximately 40% of turtle autopsy confirms that they died from a plastic bag in the intestinal tract. When the plastic bag floats on the water, it looks a lot like the jellyfish, which is a favorite food source for some turtles. You can prevent these deaths by simply using a reusable shopping bag every time everyone goes to the store.

One turtle in 2007 was found to have more than 50 items in the intestinal tract, including nylon ropes, plastic bags, adhesive films, balloons, and candy wrappers. The less plastic that enters the environment, the safer the wildlife.

Shameful sea

Bryde’s whale, stranded and dead on Cairns Beach in August 2000, was autopsied to reveal that 20 square feet of dense plastic, primarily shopping bags, were stuck in the stomach. Many of these whales die in the ocean, and the plastic is eventually exposed to water, where other sea creatures feed on it, creating a viscous cycle.

It is estimated that more than 100,000 marine life is killed each year by plastic pollution. These animals are suffering rather than dying immediately. Imagine being unable to digest food, and therefore unable to eat, and literally starving to death for plastic bags and other plastic products. Every time a consumer goes to a store, they consciously decide whether to use a reusable shopping bag. Knowing the harm they are creating, but still not understanding why everyone still chooses to use traditional bags.

Are there any changes?

It’s not uncommon to find flamingos, platypus, and other animals entwined in plastic bags, strangled, twisted, and unable to get out. In 2008, a crocodile was found dead in Australia with 25 plastic bags in its stomach. In addition, pelicans, seagulls and other birds are found daily with the same cause of death.

Due to these numbers and other environmental issues, many countries such as Bangladesh, Taiwan, China and Italy have issued laws that completely ban or claim plastic bags and are reusable. Bags are the first choice.

Sadly, in the United States, the plastics industry is struggling to resist possible laws and bans, claiming to run out of jobs. It is estimated that Americans throw away at least 100 billion bags a year. However, some cities take their own approach. Places like New York City are talking about imposing a tax of 6 cents on each plastic bag distributed. Many stores already offer small incentives for consumers to bring their eco-friendly bags when shopping.

Small changes are happening, but you don’t have to wait for city taxes and state law to make a difference. Stop using plastic bags today to save tomorrow’s animals.