A new study has found that seabird chicks are suffering from brain damage caused by ingesting plastic\u2014despite appearing healthy on the outside. According to The Guardian, researchers from the University of Tasmania examined dozens of fledgling flesh-footed shearwaters from Lord Howe Island and found alarming results.<\/p>\n
While these chicks look outwardly fit, blood tests revealed that many had been fed plastic fragments by their parents. The plastic, mistaken for food, accumulates in their stomachs and leads to internal organ damage\u2014including to the liver, kidneys, and brain. The study, published in Science Advances, detected patterns of proteins in the birds\u2019 blood that closely resemble those found in humans suffering from Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n
Lead researcher Alix de Jersey explained that even visually healthy birds are experiencing neurological issues. \u201cIt\u2019s almost equivalent to a small child having Alzheimer\u2019s,\u201d she said. While some chicks can regurgitate plastic before migration, the sheer volume ingested\u2014sometimes up to 10% of the bird\u2019s bodyweight\u2014makes recovery unlikely for many.<\/p>\n
The shearwater, a migratory species flying from Australia to Japan, is one of the most plastic-affected birds in the world. Plastic research has often focused on visibly sick or dying animals, but this study reveals the hidden toll even on those that seem unharmed.<\/p>\n
Previous investigations have found that fewer than 60 companies are responsible for over half of global plastic pollution, yet the cost is being paid by the world\u2019s most vulnerable species.<\/p>\n
Plastic waste is killing animals silently and invisibly. The best way to stop this is to cut plastic at the source\u2014by ditching single-use packaging, choosing plant-based alternatives, and pushing for systemic change. Every choice you make can help save wildlife from suffering in silence.<\/p>\n
This article<\/a> by Nicholas Vincent was first published by One Green Planet on 14 March 2025. Lead Image: Image Credit :Barbarajo\/Shutterstock. Wildlife continues to face threats, which include hunting, poaching, illegal trade in animal products, habitat loss as well as a rapidly changing climate.<\/p>\n Become a Wildlife Champion today by supporting our conservation partners<\/a> with a monthly donation as little as $1.<\/p>\n
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