Plastic pollution endangers wildlife

By Bijay Kumar Sah,Dhalkebar, May 20: Plastic pollution is increasingly putting the lives of birds and animals at risk. A black-crowned night heron was recently rescued in an unconscious condition in Puranadaha of Mithila Bihari Municipality after plastic got stuck to its beak.

The bird was rescued by Dev Narayan Mandal, who has long been active in bird conservation through the Mithila Wildlife Trust.

According to Mandal, the bird’s beak had been wrapped in plastic and stuck with an adhesive substance similar to glue. He said the bird had likely become weak and unconscious after being unable to eat. “Shortly after the plastic was removed from its beak, the bird began catching fish on its own again,” he said, adding, had it not been rescued in time, it could have died.”

Mandal blamed the growing trend of openly dumping plastic waste for putting birds and animals in danger. He said household waste is increasingly being discarded in plastic bags and birds and animals often swallow plastic while trying to eat leftover food inside them.

Plastic waste dumped around wetlands is often blown into water bodies by wind, creating additional risks for aquatic birds and other wildlife dependent on wetlands, he informed.

He added that birds sometimes accidentally swallow plastic while catching fish. Many birds die after plastic becomes wrapped around their beaks, stuck in their throats or lodged in their stomachs.Mandal also said noise pollution, smoke, soil pollution and the excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides are threatening bird populations.

Birds are often poisoned after eating pesticide-contaminated grains, insects and grasshoppers, he said. Chemical waste discharged from industries into rivers and ponds is also affecting bird habitats.

According to a study cited by Mandal, Nepal has seen a 57 per cent decline in bird populations in recent years, while 22 species have already disappeared. Environmental pollution, deforestation, wetland encroachment and plastic waste are among the main causes.

In another incident a year ago, nearly 20 kilograms of plastic were removed from the stomach of a stray cow during surgery in Janakpur.

Dr. Sanjiv Thakur, senior veterinarian of the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Expert Centre Dhanusha said small amounts of plastic may pass through animals’ digestive systems, but larger quantities accumulate in the stomach. He explained that this prevents digestion and increases the risk of infection.

According to Dr. Thakur, long-term effects include weakness, reduced appetite, bloated stomachs, restlessness, breathing difficulties and anaemia. Dairy animals may also suffer reduced milk production.

In severe cases, plastic can cause wounds and serious diseases inside the stomach, he said, adding that surgery remains the only effective treatment for such conditions, although it is expensive and not easily available everywhere.

Dr. Thakur said animals are being pushed towards death because they consume plastic while eating discarded food wrapped in plastic bags, especially in urban areas. He warned that chemicals released from plastics are affecting not only the environment but also human health.

He stressed the need for public awareness campaigns, proper waste management, discouraging open dumping, controlling stray animals in urban areas, and including plastic pollution in environmental education from school level onwards.

Mandal also urged people to reduce plastic use and choose alternatives such as paper, cloth or jute bags whenever possible.

“A small act of negligence in our daily lives is putting water, land and wildlife at risk,” he said. “Choosing alternatives to plastic is now the only way to protect the environment and living creatures.”