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The timeline for such a grisly outcome is estimated to be as short as five days if no intervention occurs. The heron's plight serves as a grim reminder of the dire consequences of plastic ingestion, not just for birds but for a wide range of wildlife affected by our throwaway culture.
The Uncommon Yet Horrific Case
While instances of plastics found in the stomachs of animals have been documented frequently, encountering a piece of plastic this large in the esophagus of a heron is an unusual event. This highlights a shocking intersection between human activity and the natural world. Such occurrences are a stark reminder that wildlife is not immune to the impacts of plastic pollution that humans have created.