A warning: This video from The Leatherback Trust, a nonprofit organization that strives to protect leatherback turtles and other sea turtle species from extinction, isn’t easy to watch. In it, rescuers attempt to pry out a plastic fork that’s gotten stuck in an olive ridley sea turtle’s nose, as the poor, majestic creature struggles in pain. The organization points out that this is sadly one of the consequences of single-use, non-biodegradable plastic.
There is a solution and it lies in our own decisions. Please say no to all single-use plastic. Every plastic straw, plastic bag, or plastic bottle that ends up in the oceans could mean the difference between life or death for any number of marine animals.
This is an issue everyone can help out with. By choosing sustainable alternatives like reusable totes, bottles, and other items, we can all reduce the amount of non-biodegradable plastic from finding its way into our ecosystem. Or if you absolutely must use single-use plastics, make sure to recycle to prevent this waste from ending up in our oceans.
Thankfully (if you couldn’t bring yourself to watch the video), the rescuers were able to help this turtle, but just think of all the ones who don’t happen upon a Good Samaritan. We can all make a difference!
