Elizabeth Hurley Facing Backlash After Posting Photo Holding Two Starfish

Elizabeth Hurley is facing backlash after posting a picture of herself holding up two starfish while she was at the beach.

The British actress and model captioned the photo, “Found these magnificent starfish, alive but stranded, on the beach- they’re now happily back at the bottom of the sea ❤️❤️❤️❤️”

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Some applauded Hurley for her rescue efforts, but others pointed out that she hurt the starfish more by holding it up for the camera.

“They are beautiful, too bad they died after you took that photo. People must know that starfish die when you take them out of the water!” someone commented.

“You shouldn’t take them out of the water for photos. They can die as they can’t breathe out of the water.”

Source: National Geographic/Youtube

Starfish, or sea stars, have seen a massive decline in recent years and are in critical danger. Researchers found that sunflower sea stars are functionally extinct, with a 99 percent decline in populations in some areas.

Scientists have linked the decline in populations to the warming temperatures in the sea, which is caused by Climate change. In January 2021, in devastating mass death, BBC reported that tens of thousands of stranded starfish washed up on the Welsh coast.

You should never handle starfish, one of the reasons being that human hands have bacteria and oils that are dangerous to sea creatures. It’s always best to leave creatures alone! Sign this petition to save the sea stars!

Related Content:

• Why are all the Sea Stars Dying?
• How Overfishing is Destroying the Rainforests of the Ocean
• This Video of a Starfish Walking on Land Will Leave You in Absolute Awe
• Australia Pledges Millions to Restore the Great Barrier Reef – Here’ How You Can Help Too!
• 15 Fascinating Marine Species You Won’t Believe Actually Exist (PHOTOS)
• 5 Types of Sea Life Affected by Ocean Acidification

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