Turtles and Plastic Bags... and Jellyfish
Page last updated:
24th Apr 2009
If you were a turtle, your idea of a good nourishing meal would be a jellyfish.
Unfortunately, when they are floating in the water, plastic bags look remarkably similar to jellyfish. The trouble is, they are not very nourishing at all. In short, they are fatal.
After a few plastic bags, the turtle's gut can no longer function. Most of the turtles washed up on our shores die from starvation in this way.
Plastic bags are killing our turtles. Be careful how you dispose of them. Even better, don't use them at all. Buy a shopping basket instead (see links left).
The good news is that, since Rebecca Hoskins' BBC film, "Message in the Waves", many people are taking up the cause and towns are becoming plastic bag free. Modbury was the first and their website is a mine of information on how to do it. On the other hand, if you live in or around Chesham in South Bucks, take a look at our site!
If you would like to comment on this article or tell me some stories about helping wild life, please go to my helping wild life blog page.
Photo source:
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/green.htm