Question

A young sperm whale was found dead off the coast. It had a large amount of human trash like trash bags, polypropylene sacks, ropes, net segments etc. amounting to 29 kg in its digestive system. The whale died because of inflammation of the abdominal lining. Suggest measures that can be taken to reduce such incidents. [5]

Answer 1

Plastics has become a desired material for creating trash bags, polypropylene sacks, ropes etc. But plastic is a non-biodegradable product and is very harmful. These plastic products gets transported to nearby rivers and oceans in which many living organisms live. These plastic products are swallowed by the animals. Plastic once ingested cannot be digested by the animals so they get stuck in the gut leading to the death of the animal. [2]

Following are some of the measures that can be taken to reduce such incidents :
i) We should decrease the use of non-biodegradable products and we should increase the use of eco-friendly packaging.
ii) All the garbage that is generated should be sorted before dumping. The biodegradable materials can be put into deep pits in the ground and be left for natural breakdown.
iii) We should carry cloth or other natural fibre carry-bags when we go for shopping and we should refuse to take the polythene bags from shopkeepers. [3]