Watch: Dead Turtle With ‘High Levels Of Plastic’ In System Found At Riviera Beach
New footage sent exclusively to Lovin Malta shows a dead female turtle washed up on the shore of Riviera Beach.
“I found her yesterday morning and called Animal Welfare and Nature Trust. They came to measure and check her condition, and said that she was dead due to a lot of plastic consumption,” the woman that found the turtle told Lovin Malta.
“It was a very heartbreaking encounter, I took my dog out for a walk and a few seconds later I spotted the turtle which was already dead and washed up on the shore by the waves,” she continued.
“This bay is like my second home as I come to swim here very often and it’s not the first time I spot huge chunks of plastic in the sea.”
She continued to say how this is the reason why it died and why jellyfish are increasing as they are not being eaten by these poor creatures, noting that this is very serious.
Speaking with Nature Trust, a representative confirmed that the turtle died due to plastic ingestion, and had been dead for around two weeks.
“It was washed ashore by the waves and had been dead for approximately two weeks. It was a juvenile turtle, around 15 years old, and she was probably a female,” Vincent Attard told Lovin Malta.
He also noted how last year the majority of turtle deaths were due to boat hits, more than plastic ingestion.
If you ever encounter a turtle in need of assistance, check out Lovin Malta’s guide to know which steps you should take
Have you ever spotted a dead turtle?
READ NEXT: 'Gozo Deserves More Respect': MEP Alfred Sant Says Gozitan Airport Project ‘Can’t Be Commercially Viable’
