This video was taken by marine biologists who were out in the ocean. I’m warning you now, it’s sort of graphic.
The marine biologists uploaded this to YouTube while they were out on a water research trip in Costa Rica. They uploaded it back in August, but I just recently discovered it. Sorry if this is old and everyone has already seen it.
The research team found a male Olive Ridley sea turtle with something lodged in his nostril, and immediately picked it up to try and get it out. After initially believing it to be a parasitic worm, the researchers discovered that it was a disposable plastic straw. They were using a Swiss Army knife that they luckily brought with them on the boat.
It’s clear that the turtle is in tremendous pain, especially when you see all of the blood coming out of the nostril. The bleeding stopped almost immediately after the straw was removed, but there is still damage to the air passageway.
The main researcher, Christine Figgener, believes that the turtle swallowed the straw and tried to regurgitate it. However, it ended up in the wrong area and became lodged in the nostril, severely inducing pain in the animal and blocking a large amount of breathing. It is clear that Figgener is strongly against plastic disposables, and rightfully so.
This video actually stirred controversy, as many people were arguing that the research team should have left the job to a veterinarian because using the knife pliers cause unnecessary pain, especially because anesthesia was not used. However, the team was one hour away from the mainland and the nearest vet. They were not permitted to take the turtle out of its habitat, or they would face severe penalties, including jail time. Additionally, there is no guarantee that a Costa Rican vet would have had anesthesia or even the proper tools to remove the straw from a sea animal.
I thought this is a very appropriate video to watch to end of this semester, especially because a graphic video like this makes us aware of the horrifying consequences of our own plastic waste. Figgener makes an interesting point in the video. Why do we even need straws? We can just as easily drink out of a cup. If straws are going to end up lodged in animals’ bodies, is it really worth risking these animals’ lives for our own convenience?
We all should consider not using plastic straws from now on. It may be a small step towards protecting our oceans and innocent animals, but it’s a step nonetheless.
Not all marine biologists in the ocean will be lucky enough to have access to a Swiss Army knife in these emergency situations.
