Whale found stranded on North Carolina shore, dies after ingesting plastic balloon

A whale was found stranded in Emerald Isle last week after ingesting a plastic balloon, according to a news release from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Beachgoers first reported sight of the Gervais' beaked whale alive in the shallow waters on Oct. 30.

This species usually lives several hundred miles offshore on and beyond the continental shelf edge, according to the release.

The NC Marine Mammal Stranding Network responded to the report and identified the animal as a female calf just under 11 feet.

The whale died shortly after beaching upon the shore and was transported to NC State University Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, where teams of marine scientists collaborated to investigate the animal's death.

Dr. Michael Tift, associate professor and director of the marine mammal stranding program at the university, led the UNCW Marine Mammal Program to examine the whale alongside collaboration from NC State and other marine teams to determine the cause of death.

Scientists discovered a crumbled-up plastic balloon obstructing the gastrointestinal tract of the whale, eventually leading to its' death, according to the release.

Approximately 125 marine mammals are stranded on North Carolina beaches each year, Tift said. This includes animals like whales, dolphins, seals, manatees, and porpoises.

"A few of the reasons that can cause these can cause these animals to strand on our beaches include diseases, wounds from other animals, ship or boat strikes, entanglement in fishing gear, and ingestion of human-manufactured products such as plastic," Tift said. "Unfortunately, it is common for use to identify plastic ingestion as the cause of death in these rare deep-diving marine mammals."

Tift and other scientists encourage North Carolina residents to be conscious consumers, opting for biodegradable alternatives to balloons for celebrations and decor.

"I have seen [balloons] in some of the most remote places on the planet and have witnessed their devastating effects on wildlife," Tift said. "I encourage lawmakers to consider banning these products."

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Beached whale dies in Emerald Isle, NC after ingesting plastic balloon