Dead turtle had 104 pieces of plastic in its intestines when it was washed up on a Florida beach

Tiny turtle had swallowed 104 pieces of plastic

The turtle died after being washed up on the beach - by Sarah Firth

Staff at an animal centre have shared a shocking photo of a dead tiny turtle and the plastic that was found in its intestines.

The turtle had washed up on a beach in Florida and was taken to the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton.

The animal died from septic shock after 104 pieces of plastic clogged up its intestines.

Posting on Facebook, the center said the turtle could fit in the palm of a hand.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Inc.

'It's washback season at Gumbo Limbo and weak, tiny turtles are washing up along the coastline needing our help, the post read.

'Unfortunately, not every washback survives. 100% of our washbacks that didn't make it had plastic in their intestinal tracts.'

The post urged people to do what they can to reduce the amount of waste plastic ending up in the ocean.

Sarah Firth

Sarah Firth is deputy features editor for that’s life! and has written for the Nottingham Post, Chat magazine, that's life! in the UK, Kidspot and The Sun online.