A dead Caribbean reef shark was found on a Cayman Islands beach this week with its body stuck inside a plastic sandal.
The shark washed ashore at South Sound on Grand Cayman. The cause of death was suffocation, according to biologist Johanna Kohler of the Cayman Islands Department of Environment.
The sandal, or open-toed shoe, appears to have become a deadly hazard after washing out with the tide.
The baby shark measured 30 inches and was likely born in July or August.
The sandal covered the shark’s gills, rendering it unable to swim, breathe properly, or eat. An examination of its stomach turned up only sand and a small worm.
The Cayman Islands Department of Environment’s Facebook post inspired several expressions of anger directed toward humans who don’t take ocean pollution seriously.
Reads one of the most popular comments: “This is just awful, utterly heartbreaking to think how much suffering that caused. We really must do better, please support local cleanups, get involved and take action.”
Reads the most popular comment: “We humans are not guardians but destroyers of this planet.”