I often read stories of animals being affected by plastic debris in our oceans which are really depressing. Recently there was one that now makes me refuse plastic straws whenever I can. A group of marine biologists in Costa Rica discovered an endangered sea turtle with a 10-12 cm plastic straw lodged in its nostril. Christine Figgener, a field biologist with a research interest in conservation filmed the excrutiating 8 minute-long extraction operation, which left the poor turtle bleeding and clearly wincing in pain. Warning, it is really distressing to watch: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wH878t78bw
An article in the telegraph references a recent study that estimated green sea turtles are 50 per cent more likely to ingest some form of plastic than they were thirty years ago. They often mistake items like plastic bags and straws for food, which can lead to blockages, infections and death.
This Easter when walking on a beautiful beach in Devon I came across this very sad sight of a dead juvenile black headed gull, strangled by a plastic top. It was so shocking that I ended up on BBC Devon News being interviewed about it and the issues around marine waste.
We don’t really expect to see such sights on UK beaches, yes we hear about the terrible plight of albatrosses but not the gulls or terns. But no animal is safe from this increasing waste stream going into our seas.
wasted talent 
One reply on “Not on our beaches?”
Very sad to see this poor bird lose his life, it must of been slow and painful end it’s heartbreaking
to know.. This is everyone’s responsibility. We need less disposable goods in life to start with.
Secondly we all are capable of taking away what we bring to the shore, and pitch in when we see
trash on it, we can all stoop down to collect it and get it secured in the trash, that said.
On summer days it can pile up and be readily blown about, then too the individual can help by opting to either force the trash down or just take the trash with them till they can make sure it’s binned properly.
I collect trash from the beach and ponds, I feel good knowing it might stop this from happening to another living being, it’s selfish in the end.