The use of plastic bags is an ongoing concern for Crocodile Joe. Because the bags are not biodegradable (meaning they will not rot down) they are causing big problems for thousands of turtles, whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and fish. The animals are eating plastic bags mistaking them for jelly fish and as they cannot be digested, their stomachs become filled with plastic bags and eventually the animal dies
It is not only plastic bags that are killing our animals but other plastic objects are potentially very dangerous, items such as plastic bottles and packaging are consumed by seabirds and other animals mistaking them for prey - many seabirds and their chicks have been found dead, with their stomachs filled with such items. It has been estimated that over a million sea-birds and one hundred thousand marine mammals and sea turtles are killed each year by eating plastics. What can you do???
LOOK HOW SIMILAR A JELLYFISH IS TO A PLASTIC BAG !!!!!!!
- Crocodile Joe wants you to help all these animals by not using plastic bags and instead using a biodegradable bag... you can get these from all major supermarkets.
- Make sure you tell your parents and your friends too, so that they can also help these animals out.
- Recycle all your plastic so that it doesn’t end up in the sea.
- Plastic is made from oil - a fossil fuel that will one day run out. It is important to make use of materials like plastics that can be recycled and re-used.
- When you go to the beach you can help by bringing a biodegradable rubbish bag and spend a little while picking up litter.
- You should never release balloons into the air. Balloons cause the death for countless numbers of sea life.
Useful links
http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/recycle.htm
http://www.aaenvironment.com/environmental-concerns-recycling.htm Suggested by Erika a student from Cleary Mountain Middle School in Virginia
