The Harmful Effects of Pollution
Pollution also causes sea turtles to be endangered. Pollution has been a problem for many years. A lot of garbage waste and toxic chemicals are being thrown into the ocean, destroying and killing the lives of many marine creatures, including sea turtles. It has been stated that approximately 1,000 sea turtles die each year from plastic consumption and entanglement. Sea turtles are accidentally eating garbage waste such as plastic bags and fishing nets, mistaking it for the food that they normally eat like jellyfish and seaweed (World Wildlife Fund). Even consuming just a few pieces of plastic and garbage can cause harmful damage to their body and lead to death. They can choke on it. The plastic can also block and puncture their digestive tract and intestines causing internal damages that results in death (Weintraub).
Plastic Straws
In addition, plastic straws also endanger sea turtles. Plastic straws are utensils that are widely used by humans and many restaurant businesses. It has been one of the reasons why sea turtles are critically endangered. As stated earlier, sea turtles often mistake it for food. As they consume these straws, they are unknowingly harming themselves. This 2015 video shown to the right, featured by the National Geographic, shows an Olive Ridley sea turtle with a plastic straw up its nostril. In this video, the researchers attempt to take the plastic straw out of the sea turtle’s nostril (Figgener). Looking at this video, one can see that the sea turtle is in a lot of pain and discomfort. It had trouble breathing and its nose was bleeding. The pain and suffering that the sea turtle went through is heartbreaking, and it was someone’s straw that caused this sea turtle to be hurt (National Geographic). Although the straw was removed and the sea turtle was in relief, plastic pollution, including the use of plastic straws, endangers the lives of sea turtles.
