Creepy dolls washing ashore in Texas are being used to help birds and sea turtles

In an ideal world, the oceans wouldn't be full of human garbage. But as long as that trash keeps washing ashore in Texas, conservationists are going to put it to good use.

The Mission-Aransas Reserve at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute is taking the best and most interesting finds from its bi-weekly beach surveys and putting them up for auction.

Up for grabs are all sorts of buoys, netting and floats you'd expect to find in the ocean. But there are some more peculiar items — including a fibreglass mermaid, and a collection of horrifying, barnacle encrusted, internet-famous dolls.

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The dolls have become something of a media sensation, garnering international headlines and even nabbing the attention of Last Week Tonight host John Oliver, who bought 12 of them last year for $10,000 US.

"That was a huge benefit to the rehab facility," Tunnell said.

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https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/creepy-beach-dolls-auction-1.6848053