The press service of Carlsbad Caverns National Park in the United States shared a story on Facebook about how a discarded chip packet nearly led to an ecological catastrophe. According to park regulations, visitors are prohibited from bringing any food into the caves. However, a carelessly discarded chip packet triggered the growth of mold on the cave floor.
The mold formed due to leftover corn pieces in the packet and the high humidity conditions. Its appearance had a significant impact on the local ecosystem. Small cave inhabitants such as crickets, spiders, and flies began to consume the foreign substance, spreading contamination throughout the area. The mold began to grow, die, and emit an unpleasant odor. Moreover, new microorganisms introduced with the chip packet could have potentially caused the death of some cave dwellers.
It took park staff 20 minutes to thoroughly remove the mold from the cave surface. The national park noted that humans always leave a trace wherever they go. We must remember this and strive to make the world around us better.
Carlsbad Caverns is visited by thousands of tourists daily. The park is located in southeastern New Mexico. Its main attraction is a chain of 80 karst caves with a variety of mineral formations. The caves are 250 million years old.
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