Assignment Asia: Plastic pollution’s impact on marine life

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According to the United Nations Environment Program, eight million tons of plastics – bottles, packaging and other waste – are dumped into the ocean every year, killing marine life and entering the human food chain.

The discarded plastics have certainly threatened the lives of countless marine life.

Turtles injured and killed

Turtles are some of the largest sea living creatures, but in recent years they've become much harder to find in their natural habitat.

Their size makes them particularly vulnerable to larger bits of plastic waste that tangle or cut their flippers.

Some of the cuts have infected or crippled the graceful swimmers.

A few lucky ones are delivered by fishermen to rehabilitation centers.

Most are washed up dead on the beach.

This turtle is now recuperating in a rehabilitation center in Thailand. /CGTN Photo

Pilot whale found dead

Recently, a pilot whale was found floundering in the Gulf of Thailand.

Despite desperate attempts to keep it alive, the large sea creature finally died after throwing up plastic for days.

An autopsy found more than 8 kilograms of plastic bags and items in its stomach.

The pilot whale struggled to swim and breathe, and died after a five-day struggle. /CGTN Photo

Assignment Asia is CGTN's award-winning current affairs program featuring long-form stories and documentaries on some of the most pressing issues in the region. The show airs Saturdays at 1330 and 2130 GMT, with replays every Sunday at 0630, Monday at 0130, and Tuesday at 0530. This plastic pollution story will first air on 24 November.