Tiny Loggerhead Turtle Dies After Eating 104 Pieces Of Plastic, Despite Rescue, Vet Care

When Emily Mirowski took in a tiny loggerhead turtle that had been washed up in Boca Raton, Florida, she knew it wasn’t healthy. It was lethargic, almost lifeless, with a drooping head – healthy turtles are normally so full of energy that they are hard to hold.

But she hoped it would live: its shell was immaculate and healthy looking, a beautiful orange brown, and the turtle was small enough to fit in the palm of the 29-year-old’s hand. It died soon after.

Mirowski was shocked when, in the process of determining the cause of death, she found 104 pieces of plastic inside it. “As she cut into it, it was just like, whoa. Every time she cut through there was more plastic coming out of its stomach,” said Whitney Crowder, 39, who runs the rehabilitation center where the turtle was washed up.

They posted a photo of the turtle to Facebook on Tuesday, which has since been shared thousands of times. But while the public was shocked, it is something that Crowder sees everyday.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/04/florida-turtle-dies-plastic-pieces