A team of researchers from the Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA) of the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has found a mask in the digestive system of a dolphin that washed up on the coast of Arico (Tenerife) last March.
This has been revealed by the necropsy performed on the animal, a female common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)in which other residues were also extracted, such as bdisposable bags, fishing lines, textile threads, ropes and plastic bags that were lodged in its main stomach, the ULPGC reported in a statement.
This finding highlights the “enormous problem” posed by the presence of garbage and waste in the marine environment, mainly plastic materials, which have a great impact on marine species, highlights the University.
Previous studies carried out by the IUSA have revealed the scope of this problem in cetaceans stranded in the Canary Islands, demonstrating the presence of this litter in 7.74% of the cetaceans studied between 2000 and 2016.
These residues were responsible for the cause of death of the animal in 2.8% of the animals tested.
The IUSA is a reference entity in the study of cetaceans and develops projects related to their conservation and protection, the prevention of stranding and, in general, the knowledge of these animals in their habitat in Canarian waters.
