Diver Lorien Cleavinger Removes Plastic Debris From Sperm Whale's Mouth in the Indian Ocean

While diving in the Indian Ocean, Lorien Cleavinger came across a sperm whale trapped in debris, its head and mouth caught in trash. Cleavinger, who leads small wilderness trips with Robby Melville under the name Globetrotting Baes, quickly went to help the whale by removing the garbage. She felt nervous, as this was her first time so close to such a massive creature. Bracing herself against the whale, she pulled out larger pieces before surfacing for air and diving back to get more trash stuck deeper. The whale stayed calm and even swam beside her group afterward. Cleavinger found the experience both touching and sorrowful. According to the UN Environment Program, 11 to 14 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, with 80% coming from land sources. This incident, captured on video, underscores the risks that marine life faces due to poor waste management.