Irish wildlife charities call for end to ‘pretty littering’
The increasing number of balloon and Chinese lantern releases in Ireland may have “long-lasting and far-reaching effects on our environment”, according to a coalition of Ireland’s leading wildlife charities.
The Irish Wildlife Trust, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, the Irish Seal Sanctuary have teamed up to urge members of the public considering such “pretty littering” to think about the potential consequences for wildlife and the environment.
“Balloon latex can take up to 12 months to degrade in the marine environment and has been found in the stomachs of whales, dolphins, turtles, sharks and birds,” said coalition spokesperson Debbi Pedreschi, who added that Chinese lanterns “have been responsible for death and injury to domesticated and wild animals alike, along with causing injuries to humans, presenting a fire risk, and wasting resources when mistaken for emergency flares at sea.”
Pedereschi described the releasing of balloons or lanterns as “essentially pretty littering and there is no excuse for not thinking about the consequences. What goes up must come down; fragments, strings and wires contaminate the environment, and cause animals to become entangled or even to choke to death.”
She added that there are “far more environmentally friendly ways to celebrate or commemorate without risking the safety of our wildlife”.
