In pics: Whale dies in Thailand, autopsy reveals 80 plastic bags weighing up to 8 kilograms

A whale has died in southern Thailand after swallowing more than 80 plastic bags, officials said, ending an attempted rescue that failed to nurse the mammal back to health.

Thailand is one of the world’s largest consumers of plastic bags, which kill hundreds of marine creatures living near the country’s popular beaches each year.

A veterinary team tried “to help stabilise its illness but finally the whale died” on Friday afternoon, the post said.

An autopsy revealed 80 plastic bags weighing up to eight kilograms (18 pounds) in the creature’s stomach, the department added.

Photos accompanying the post showed a group of people using buoys to keep the whale afloat after it was first spotted on Monday and an umbrella to shield it from the scorching sun.

The whale vomited up five bags during the rescue attempt before it died, the department said.

This handout picture from ThaiWhales a private whale conservation group, taken on May 28, 2018 and released on June 2, 2018 shows ThaiWhales volunteers and governmment marine veterinarians from Department of Marine and Coastal Resources rescuing a sick male pilot whale at sea in the coastal area of southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. (AFP)

The whale vomited up five bags during the rescue attempt before it died. (AFP)

A whale found to have swallowed up to 80 plastic bags is seen in Songkhla, Thailand, in this still image from a June 1, 2018 video footage by Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. (Reuters)

An autopsy revealed 80 plastic bags weighing up to eight kilograms (18 pounds) in the creature’s stomach. (REUTERS)