Environmentalists have pointed out that animals are at risk from discarded coronavirus protective gear. According to the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society even though face masks and latex gloves have become part of our everyday lives, for animals they have become death traps.
“Animals get entangled on the straps of face masks leading to a slow death while the brightly colored latex gloves are mistaken for food by birds, turtles and other marine mammals putting them at risk of severe injury and death,” it said in a statement.
The Society has requested the public to dispose of their masks responsibly. “Cut the straps of disposable face masks before discarding them and do not put latex gloves on the ground or into drains. Alternatively use reusable masks and rubber gloves instead of disposable masks and latex gloves” the statement further said.
