This is the heartbreaking moment a sea turtle tried to eat a piece of plastic floating around an aquarium.

The endangered green sea turtle at Sea Life Bangkok spotted the transparent piece of trash drifting through the water and mistook it for a jellyfish in Bangkok on November 21.

It bit the plastic and was already trying to swallow it when a visitor spotted what was happening and called for help.

Footage shows the marine reptile trying to consume the plastic. It reached the edge of the tank where a caretaker used tongs to try and pull the plastic from its mouth.

Tourist Noeywra said: 'The caretaker could only use a tool to grab the plastic. It was too late. The turtle had already eaten the trash.'

The tourist added that it was only a matter of seconds when it happened, but Sea Life Bangkok staff members assured her they would be monitoring the animal.

She said: 'I do not know how the plastic got there. I hope the turtle is safe.

The aquarium, the biggest in Southeast Asia, said later in a statement that the incident was caused by a fault with the water system.

They added: 'In the area where this happened, a water circulation system is running to improve quality. This system caused plastic debris to fly and eventually fall into the sea turtle exhibit zone.'

The sea turtle remains under monitoring by the caretakers.

Green sea turtles often mistake plastic debris for their natural food sources, like jellyfish. When they ingest plastic, it can severely harm their digestive systems, leading to blockages, internal injuries, and even death.

These marine reptiles are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, poaching, accidental capture in fishing gear, and, notably, plastic ingestion.