Donkeys are dying from plastic ingestion – and they’re not the only land species affected

The headlines often focus on the devastating effects of plastic pollution on marine life: turtles ensnared in fishing nets, seabirds with stomachs full of plastic debris, and hermit crabs using discarded bottles as makeshift shells among many others. The plight of these animals, though heart-wrenching, have become all too familiar. However, we hear much less about the equally worrying impact of plastic pollution on land animals—until now. 

A groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of Plymouth, UK, is shedding light on how plastic waste affects one of the world’s most populous land animals: the donkey, according to an article in the Guardian. 

More than 3,000 donkeys reside on Kenya’s Lamu Island, where they serve as vital transport for both people and goods in the absence of cars. With limited grazing areas, these donkeys often resort to feeding on whatever is available, including discarded cloth, plastic bottles, food packaging, diapers, and other human refuse. Unfortunately, this scavenging behavior exposes them to the risk of intestinal blockages, leading to starvation and all-too-often, death. 

The Lamu Donkey Sanctuary, an organization dedicated to animal welfare, recently reported a distressing incident where they extracted 30 cm of tangled plastic from the intestines of a sick baby donkey. This is just one among many cases they encounter. 

The researchers on Lamu have documented that at least three donkeys per month are succumbing to colic—a severe condition causing intestinal distress—likely due to ingesting plastic waste. 

This research is just one of a number of studies into the impact of plastic waste on land animals. Prof Richard Thompson of the University of Plymouth said: “We’ve got less data on it [than on marine ecosystems], but initial work on the impact of plastics on land suggests it could be equally pervasive.” 

In an unrelated study conducted in the UK in 2022, researchers found that over half of the small mammal species examined had ingested plastic, primarily polyester fibers likely originating from clothing. 

These studies underscore the urgent need for action to mitigate the far-reaching consequences of plastic pollution on land ecosystems. As we strive to protect our natural world, it’s clear that the threat of plastic pollution extends far beyond our oceans—it affects every corner of our planet and many of its inhabitants.