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Plastic ingestion and marine litter
The ingestion of plastic and marine litter is a major problem for the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), a large seabird of the southern seas. This animal feeds on the ocean surface and often mistakes floating plastic fragments for nat...
What is it?
The ingestion of plastic and marine litter is a major problem for the wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans), a large seabird of the southern seas. This animal feeds on the ocean surface and often mistakes floating plastic fragments for natural prey such as squid or fish eggs. This debris accumulates in its stomach and can cause internal damage, chronic malnutrition or death, particularly in young birds still in the nest.
Key point
This phenomenon is recognized as a major threat to the long-term survival of populations of wandering albatross and other seabirds, contributing to the decline of several species already classified as vulnerable or endangered.
Commonly observed signs
These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.
Related signs — each one links to its page:
Affected birds often show progressive weight loss despite sometimes having a poor appetite, general weakness and difficulty flying or moving normally.
In chicks fed by regurgitation, there is marked growth retardation, a belly that may be distended or hard to the touch, and unusual lethargy.
Vomiting or regurgitation containing plastic fragments may be visible, as well as progressive dehydration.
In severe cases, the bird may starve even though its stomach appears full, because the plastic takes up the space without providing any nutrients.
When to consult without delay
This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.
Causes and risk factors
The direct cause is the ingestion of plastic debris (caps, bottle fragments, nets, lighters, pieces of packaging) floating on the surface of the ocean. Adults capture these wastes while thinking they are catching prey, then unintentionally regurgitate them to their chicks during feeding. Plastic is not digested and accumulates in the gizzard and stomach, causing occupation of the digestive space, internal injuries from sharp edges, and sometimes complete blockage of the digestive tract.
Young chicks are the most vulnerable because they are entirely dependent on what the parents bring from the sea and cannot regurgitate indigestible objects as easily as adults.
The proximity of intensive fishing zones and marine currents accumulating plastic waste (such as certain oceanic convergence zones) increases exposure.
Colonies located on isolated islands in the southern seas, far from any direct pollution, are not protected because waste travels very long distances carried by currents.
Diagnosis and care
Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.
The diagnosis is based on clinical observation of the bird (weight loss, lethargy, distended stomach) associated with imaging examinations such as radiography or endoscopy to visualize foreign bodies in the stomach. Analysis of the contents of regurgitations or post-mortem study of individuals found dead often confirms the presence of plastic. These birds being wild and living in an isolated environment, individual diagnosis is rare; Most of the data comes from scientific studies carried out by conservation teams on the colonies.
Treatment
There is no specific drug treatment. In the rare cases of treatment in a wildlife care center, surgical intervention may be considered to remove foreign bodies obstructing the digestive tract, combined with rehydration and nutritional support. Veterinary care of this wild species remains exceptional in practice, with the majority of affected individuals never being examined by a professional.
Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.
Prevention
Prevention is essentially based on reducing plastic pollution at sea on a global scale, through better waste management, limiting single-use plastic and cleaning coastal and ocean areas.
Colony monitoring programs help identify troubled chicks early and inform conservation efforts.
Raising public and fisheries awareness of the impact of marine litter on ocean wildlife also helps limit the problem in the long term.
Possible complications
Complications include complete intestinal obstruction, digestive perforation by sharp debris, chronic malnutrition leading to death by starvation despite an apparently full stomach, and irreversible growth retardation in surviving chicks.
When to see a veterinarian
A chick or adult found very emaciated, weak or unable to fly must be reported to a wildlife conservation center.
The discovery of plastic fragments in regurgitation or droppings should alert colony monitoring teams.
An abnormally distended or hard belly in a chick requires examination by a specialist wildlife team.
Any bird stranded or in distress on a beach must be reported to the authorities or marine wildlife protection associations.
Prognosis
The prognosis strongly depends on the quantity and nature of the waste ingested. A small amount of small fragments can sometimes be tolerated without serious consequence, but a large accumulation or sharp-edged debris carries a poor, often fatal prognosis, particularly in young chicks which lack the ability to effectively regurgitate these objects.
Frequently asked questions
Why do albatrosses eat plastic?
They hunt on the ocean surface and mistake floating plastic fragments for natural prey like squid or fish eggs, especially when this debris has been colonized by algae or gives off an odor similar to food.
Are chicks more affected than adults?
Yes, because they rely entirely on food regurgitated by their parents and cannot easily sort or reject indigestible objects, unlike adults who can sometimes regurgitate them voluntarily.
Can we treat an albatross that has ingested plastic?
In rare cases where the bird is taken in by a wildlife care center, surgery can remove the foreign bodies, but most individuals affected in the wild are never treated.
Does this problem only affect the wandering albatross?
No, many species of seabirds around the world are affected by the ingestion of plastic waste, but the great albatrosses of the southern seas are particularly studied due to their sensitivity and their conservation status of concern.
References
WOAH — Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (ex-OIE)
FAO — Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture
Content reviewed by the TunisieVet editorial team · Updated 11 August 2026
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