Plastic pollution harms both land-based and marine wildlife.

Plastic is toxic and either can kill wildlife or make them more susceptible to illness. Plastic can also disrupt habitats making it difficult for some species to live and breed.

Larger pieces of plastic lead to suffocation, entanglement, laceration, infections and internal injuries. There are too many reports of marine life either physically entangled and killed or whose emaciated bodies upon necropsy contain stomachs full of plastic. Marine mammals, turtles and fish mistake the plastic for food and starve on this plastic.

For example, animals looking for food can get their heads stuck in plastic containers leading to suffocation, starvation and death. Ingestion of plastic packaging can lead to intestinal blockage, illness and death. Animals and birds become entangled in plastic soda can holders or other plastic materials and cannot feed and escape predators or suffer injuries that can become lethally infected. 

https://notthebee.com/article/3-million-face-masks-are-thrown-away-every-minute-and-its-killing-wildlife-worldwide

In the oceans, the larger pieces of plastic similarly kill wildlife by entanglement and laceration and suffocation. 

https://theoceancleanup.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch/

https://pollutionpawc.commons.gc.cuny.edu/files/2020/05/fc749fe90710d395ee3481d4f5391788-1024x576.jpg

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/

It has been reported that 200 different marine species worldwide have become entangled with plastic ropes, fishing nets and soda can holders. Other studies state approximately 52% of sea turtles and 44% of seabird species have ingested plastic debris. A 2016 UN report documented over 800 animal species contaminated with plastic either by ingestion or entanglement.

Many marine creatures mistake plastic for food. It is estimated that ingestion of plastic kills 1 million marine birds and 100,000 marine animals each year.

For example, the plastic bag floating in the water resembles a jellyfish, a turtle’s favorite food.

https://www.kfw-entwicklungsbank.de

https://cdn.i-scmp.com

Ingestion of plastic leads to illness, starvation and death. Plastic has been found in the stomachs of birds, turtles, dolphins and whales.  

https://www.theinertia.com/environment/13-sperm-whales-found-dead-with-stomachs-full-of-plastic-trash/

https://www.orissapost.com/dead-whale-in-philippines-had-40-kg-of-plastic-in-stomach/

NPR reported a young whale in the Philippines had died from starvation with 88 pounds of plastic discovered in its stomach. There are countless reports of similar stories of many whales all over the world found beached with plastic in their stomachs.

Scientists in the UK have reported that 100% of animals washed up on British shores had plastic in their stomachs.

Archipelago.gr