Study of Donkey Poop Reveals a Microplastics Problem
One of the donkeys on Lamu Island. (Getty Images / Anja Koeberle)
A new study reveals a surprising and troubling source of plastic pollution—right under our feet. Researchers are now showing that terrestrial animals are ingesting significant amounts of microplastics, with potentially serious consequences for both animal and human health.
In research soon to be published in Cambridge Prisms: Plastics, a team from the University of Portsmouth focused on donkeys and cattle on Kenya’s Lamu Island. While plastic pollution’s impact on marine life is well documented, land-based animals have received far less attention. On Lamu, free-roaming livestock commonly graze near open dumps due to limited waste management and inconsistent feed.
The researchers collected 39 fecal samples from these animals in March and November 2023—and found microplastics in every single one. Observations and surveys revealed that donkeys, often left to forage on their own, are consuming alarming amounts of plastic: roughly one in every 10 to 20 items they eat is plastic. Most microplastics detected measured between 500 micrometers and 5 millimeters (0.02–0.2 inches). Veterinarians at Lamu’s Donkey Sanctuary have long reported deaths caused by plastic-induced colic.
The team warns the problem isn’t limited to animals. Microplastics in manure could contaminate crops or animal products, potentially entering the human food chain. Study author Cressida Bowyer emphasized, “Most plastic pollution originates on land, yet its impacts on land-based animals remain chronically understudied. Our findings show how urgently this knowledge gap needs to be addressed.”
This research highlights a growing concern: microplastics are no longer just a marine problem—they’re affecting the animals we rely on for food and livelihoods.
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