Find the plastic whale in Bahía
The plastic whale
~ by Katharina Bertl – Julia Gerber
Bahía free of plastic
The Festival de Ballenas y Delfines is an annual occurrence in Marino Ballena National Park in late September/early October. The special initiative for this year “Bahía free of plastic” started an artistic project to make people aware of the terrifying and all present usage of single-use plastic containers.
Alban Corrales, member of Trincheras Galería Expresión Artística from San Isidro and his team constructed a gigantic whale out of plastic bottles. It is 9.20 meters. long, 2mtrs. high and 6 meters wide. The building materials were provided by local businesses, and empty bottles were supplied by hotels, restaurants and tour operators. Every day 10-20 young volunteers worked together to create this symbol of the Whales Festival.
The plastic whale is exhibited at the “Campo Ferial” of the Festival, close to the Marino Ballena National Park entrance. Visitors are welcome.People can enter the whale's mouth to admire meaningful messages that were placed there. They concern the plastic waste and its tragic consequences for the ocean. On world oceans day, the 8th of June, the project “Bahia libre de Plástico” was founded. Travis Bays, owner of “Bodhisurf”, Amy Wok of “Geo-Porter” (an Organization for the conservation of the environment in Uvita), and Andrés Vargas from "Bungalows Ballena" formed a coalition to reduce plastic waste in Bahía. Along with Asana (Friends of Nature of the Central and South Pacific Coast), many businesses are part of the initiative.
We have more good news: Costa Rica wants to become world´s first single-use plastic free country by 2021. Bahía planted the seed. Let's work together towards this goal.
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