The Southern Royal Albatross can live for around 60 years – but this one was just five at most (Picture: Greenpeace)

An endangered bird swallowed a plastic bottle whole and then took days to starve to death. 

Vets were unsure what was wrong with the young male albatross until they opened it up after it died – to discover an entire 500ml bottle in its stomach. Experts have warned that other seabirds may be dying in the same way across the world’s oceans.