13-year-old Filip finds a duck on the beach: the inscription reveals a dark secret

The BBC writes.

The rubber duck had been put into the water during a record attempt in Dublin in 2006, and after an incredible journey of 681 kilometers and 18 years later, it had ended its days on a beach in the Orkney Islands in Scotland.

This little duck was originally put into the River Liffey with 149,999 other ducks as part of a charity event, but won his own unofficial long-distance competition by getting as far as possible.

This event attracted a lot of attention at the time, as it was meant to be a fun and innocent way to raise money for charity. But like so many of its plastic counterparts, the duck ended up illustrating a more serious environmental problem.

– The plastic was surprisingly intact, despite many years in the sea. It was bleached by the sun, but you could still see the black eyes and the orange beak, Marion, Philip’s mother, explained.

This story is a window into a larger discussion about plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. Scientists have estimated that huge amounts of plastic continue to float around and cause damage to marine ecosystems.

The duck, along with countless other plastic items, represents a global challenge that requires international attention and action.

“It’s fascinating, but also deeply disturbing, that something as mundane as a duck from a charity run can end its journey as evidence of the reach of plastic pollution,” Marion concludes, adding a bittersweet note to this otherwise charming anecdote.