Scientists were eager to find out what caused the young sperm whale that washed up on a Spanish beach earlier this year. After discovering over 30 kg of plastic waste in its stomach, they believed they had found the answer. The 10-meter-long sperm whale was found on the edge of the sand in Cabo de Palos in the Spanish region of Murcia.

Sperm whales typically eat large squid, octopus, small sharks, and other seafood, but this sperm whale also ate bundles of straw, plastic bags, ropes, nets, drum ropes, and a water container.

Experts have speculated that the whale, unable to process or excrete waste from its body, was likely suffering from a stomach ailment.

Consuelo Rosauro, Director General of the Environment of Murcia, said: “The presence of plastic in waters and oceans represents one of the greatest attacks on the protection of flora and fauna, as many animals are trapped in the garbage or end up ingesting large amounts of plastic, which ultimately costs them their lives.”

Around one hundred and fifty million tons of plastic are currently floating in our oceans, and another eight million tons are added every year.