According to the New Straits Times, travel content creator Murphy Ng was hiking near the Maliau Basin Research Center in Sabah, Malaysia when he saw something distressing.
What happened?
Last December, Wu walked along the bird trail with a ranger. At first, he didn’t know what he was looking at.
“We found several piles of elephant dung along the trail, and I also noticed something metallic,” Wu said. “At first I thought it was just a small candy wrapper, but when I pulled it out it turned out to be a full plastic bag, intact.”
The Times said Wu shared the incident on Facebook. He encouraged people to also be mindful of how they handle plastic.
Why is plastic waste a concern?
This isn’t the first time plastic has appeared in an animal’s digestive system, and it probably won’t be the last. Even if elephants do swallow candy wrappers, plastics of all sizes can be harmful.
The U.S. Department of Environment reports that microplastics can make fish swim slower and damage their genes, which they can pass on to their offspring. A pregnant sperm whale was also found to have nearly 50 pounds of plastic in its stomach. Plastic waste of all kinds kills more than 1 million marine animals every year.
The impact of plastic pollution on marine life has also affected people’s lifestyles.
Air pollution persists and warms the planet as microplastics disrupt the way oceans absorb carbon. Rising temperatures lead to extreme weather events that can cause people to lose their jobs, homes and way of life.
Reducing plastic pollution helps people and wildlife live more fulfilling lives in a healthier, safer environment.
What measures have we taken to combat plastic waste?
According to the Times, elephant expert Dr. Cheryl Cheah said there are currently no known elephant deaths in Malaysia related to plastic consumption.
Brands that support reducing plastic use or eliminating plastic, such as Stasher bags, are critical to reducing overall plastic use. But these options can cost more upfront and aren’t available to everyone.
Encouraging and advocating for brands to reduce their use of plastic, especially if done in a coordinated manner, can help. Even making sure your plastic goes into the trash and not into the grass can reduce pollution in the ecosystem.
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