A 10-foot whale calf has tragically died after eating a party balloon – with the carcass washing up on a beach.
The Gervais’ beaked whale was reported by people on Emerald Isle beach in Morehead City, North Carolina, US.
When officials arrived, they found the mammal had sadly perished, and confirmed it was a 10-foot 9ins female calf.
The dead stranded whale was removed from the surf and taken to NC State University Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST), where tests found the young female had died due to ingestion of plastic – a pentagon-shaped party balloon.
A spokesperson for CMAST said: “Unfortunately, this young female whale died due to ingestion of plastic.
“The collaborative team examined every tissue of this young whale during the necropsy, and all appeared normal until the stomach was opened.
“In addition to some milk (indicating the female was a nursing calf), a pentagonal plastic balloon was discovered, crumpled up and obstructing the passage of digesta to the rest of the gastrointestinal tract.
“Before purchasing balloons to commemorate important life events (whether they are latex or Mylar), please consider using biodegradable alternatives instead.
“Please make sure all gases have been removed from balloons prior to discarding. This can avoid them getting ‘loose’ and posing an unnecessary and tragic danger, causing wildlife to starve and perish over time – as in the case of this unfortunate Gervais’ beaked whale.”
The whale was originally found on 30 October, with test results revealed this week as to its cause of death.
The spokesperson added: “Beaked whales are large, deep-diving marine mammals.
“Little is known about Gervais’ beaked whale social structure and life history.
“Live sightings are unusual because the normal habitat for these animals is at the continental shelf edge and beyond, and they spend most of their time underwater.”
