Veterinarski glasnik 2024 Volume 78, Issue 2, Pages: 190-196
https://doi.org/10.2298/VETGL240509014G
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Mortality from plastic ingestion and net entanglement in marine birds - description of three cases
Garcês Andreia 
(Wildlife Rehabilitation Center + University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, CECAV, Centre for Animal Sciences and Veterinary Studies, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science-ALAnimalS, Quinta dos Prados, Vila Real, Portugal), andreiamvg@gmail.com
Soeiro Vanessa (Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Parque Biológico de Gaia, R. Cunha, Avintes, Portugal)
Loio Sara (Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of Parque Biológico de Gaia, R. Cunha, Avintes, Portugal)
Pires Isabel (University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, CECAV, Centre for Animal Sciences and Veterinary Studies, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science-ALAnimalS, Quinta dos Prados, Vila Real, Portugal)
Plastic debris is a significant threat to marine ecosystems, notably affecting seabird populations globally. In this report, the authors document deaths related to plastic ingestion in a Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus, Linnaeus, 1758) and net entanglement in a Yellow-Legged Gull (Larus michahellis, Naumann, 1840) and a Northern Gannet (M. bassanus, Linnaeus, 1758) in Northern Portugal. All three animals died as a result of either plastic entanglement or ingestion. While this report highlights just three cases, it emphasizes the severe negative impacts of plastic on seabirds, ultimately leading to the deaths of these animals.
Keywords: birds, entanglement, ingestion, marine bird, plastic
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