SANDY HOOK, NJ – In December, a pygmy sperm whale washed up dead on the beach in Sandy Hook and this week, the Marine Mammal Stranding Center has announced the cause of death…human beings.
“We have a sad update on the pygmy sperm whale that stranded in Sandy Hook on December 2nd. Necropsy results concluded that the animal died as a result of a blockage in the stomach caused by a piece of fabric. This obstruction prevented anything from moving into the intestines, making the animal unable to digest food,” the MMSC said.
The Marine Mammal Stranding Center wants people to know that there are things you can do to stop the needless deaths of approximately one million sea animals each year.
Researchers estimate that over one million marine animals annually are killed by ingesting or becoming entangled in marine debris. Large amounts of man-made materials such as plastics, metals, rubber, textiles, paper, and lost or discarded fishing gear enter the marine environment every day. Marine debris is a preventable problem.
Learn some steps you can take at home and in your community to help make a difference for the ocean and the fragile species that call it home- https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/discover-marine-debris/how-help
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