Dead deep-water dolphin calf's stomach held plastic bags and balloon, scientists discover

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Fort Myers News-Press


Amy Bennett Williams, Fort Myers News-Press Published 3:46 p.m. ET April 27, 2019

Biologists found two plastic bags and a shredded balloon in the stomach of a female rough-toothed dolphin calf stranded Tuesday on Fort Myers Beach.

Though rescuers worked into the wee hours Wednesday, the emaciated dolphin was in such poor condition they decided to euthanized her, said Michelle Kerr of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Under normal circumstances, so small and young a dolphin should still have been with her mother, but somehow, she wound up far from her deep-water home.

. . .

"This finding highlights the need to reduce single-use plastic and to not release balloons into the environment,” the release said.





Read more: https://www.news-press.com/story/tech/science/environment/2019/04/27/dead-dolphin-calfs-stomach-held-plastic-bags-balloon-scientists-discover/3599725002/

[cstanleytech]

1. Plastic bags should be banned outright as they are nothing but trouble for

the environment.

[rwsanders]

2. Rough-toothed dolphins are so sweet.

There is one named Ivan at the Gulf Aquarium in Panama City, FL that was rescued after Hurricane Ivan.
My wife and I got to sit on the side of the pool and interact with him. He kept returning to the encounter spot hoping someone would come back and play.

I'm still on the fence about captive cetaceans, but it was a great experience.
https://gulfworldmarinepark.com/rough-toothed-encounter/

If plastics were banned tomorrow it would still not be soon enough. I'd love to see it happen, but I can imagine the deranged howls from the loony right feces spewing commentators if it was proposed. Hopefully some degradable substitutes will replace disposables soon.

Many organizations are fighting to keep plastics out of the ocean:
Sea Shepherd:
https://seashepherd.org/campaigns/clean-waves/
Ocean conservancy:
https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/
For us inland folks:
https://www.livinglandsandwaters.org/

[Judi Lynn]

5. Didn't know that the guest of honor on the "Flipper" TV show

was also a rough toothed dolphin. My goodness. They seem to radiate joyfulness at times.
Very bright, curious, lively (when they aren't dying from polution) and always precious.

Thank you for the info., and the helpful links, rwsanders.

[japple]

3. Balloons should be banned forever from this planet!!!!

eom

[JudyM]

7. People and their celebratory balloon releases. Ignorance or selfish egos.

[Honeycombe8]

4. Plastic bags need to be outlawed. They're just too easy to float away in the environment.

They get caught by the wind, unnoticeably dropped, easily thrown away. It's a hassle to take your own totes to the store, but it's time that people get used to it.

[Evolve Dammit]

6. Agree 100%. We don't need them, they are killing marine life and largely made from petroleum.

[DAMANgoldberg]

8. I, for one, do it all the time.

IMOF went shopping tonight at Aldi (German operators) and Food Lion (SE portion of Ahold Delhaize, Dutch operators). I always bring my bags; a collection of different store bags. Been doing this for years. Since I need garbage bags for the bathroom, I got some plastic bags at the Food Lion portion of weekly shopping. I have refrigerated bags, regular bags, smaller bags, lighter bags, and the box style for canned goods.

Since I don't own a car, ridesharing services fit in, especially with either or both of Uber/Lyft offering discounts. Quite helpful when buying items too heavy to carry on CATS.

[csziggy]

10. For my husband it's a bigger hassle to get rid of the plastic bags

We've been using canvas reusable bags for decades so it is now a habit to take them with us to all stores. My husband hauls our garbage to to drop off point about every six to eight weeks. Most of the time it's one can of garbage and three or four cans of recyclables.

We don't bag our garbage in plastic bags though we line our small trash bins with plastic ones to keep them clean, but only change the bags when they get worn out. The kitchen cans (one for garbage, one for plastic and metal, one for cardboard and paper, and one for plastic and foam) are sized to take paper sacks. We have to plan on getting paper sacks since we are so good about the reusable bags and as with the other bins, only change out the paper sacks when they get nasty.

[Honeycombe8]

12. Where do you get paper bags these days?

I haven't seen those in years.

The garbage men don't require plastic bags for the garbage they pick up at the curb? Paper bags would spill stuff, wouldn't it?

I'd be interested in doing this, if feasible. OTOH, I've read that it's pointless to use degradable substances for landfills, because oxygen doesn't get to anything, so nothing degrades, anyway. ???

[evemac]

9. I. Hate. Plastic. nt

[Duppers]

11. Yes, and I hate people for not giving a...

Rat's. Far too many don't.

[Kali]

13. plastic kills terrestrial animals too,

wild and domestic. at least where I am the sun does eventually break the shit down, but if the critters get to it soon after blowing out of your car or whatever, they will eat it and it can block their systems and lead to a slow death.

[rwsanders]

14. Only breaks it down to nano-particles, which are now being found in our drinking water.