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Microplastics on the menu for manta rays and whale sharks

Reef manta rays and whale sharks accidentally ingest harmful microplastics that pollute Indonesian waters, according to new research.

These large filter-feeders swallow hundreds to thousands of cubic metres of plankton-filled water every day and, with it, tiny plastic pieces from broken down carrier bags and single-use packaging.

Marine biologists from the Marine Megafauna Foundation, Murdoch University in Australia and Udayana University in Indonesia estimated the amount of plastic particles present in specific areas of Indonesian waters.

Based on these estimations they were able to calculate how many pieces the creatures ingest.

The full extent of what they discovered is truly shocking.

Find out more in the video above.