Blue Planet II viewers were crying their eyes out as a whale carried its dead newborn around - killed by human activity.
Sir David Attenborough explained we "dump eight million tonnes of plastic into the sea" every year, and it "entangles and drowns a vast number of creatures".
The BBC documentary then cut to a group of whales - and closed up on one in particular.
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David said: "This mother has been carrying her newborn around, but it's dead.
"She's reluctant to let it go, it's been dead for many days."
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Pilot whale carries its dead newborn calf on Blue Planet 2
The pilot whale carried around its dead calf for days (Image: BBC)
Discarded plastic is found throughout the ocean and has a devastating impact on marine life (Image: BBC)
He then continued to explain how plastic breaks down and becomes toxic, making it "lethal" to top predators like these whales.
David said: "The calf may have been poisoned by the mother's own contaminated milk."
As a group of slow-moving whales were shown, he continued: "Pilot whales have big brains, and they can certainly experience emotions.
"Judging the adults, the loss of the infant has affected the entire family."
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The scenes were extremely emotional (Image: BBC)
The whales showed signs of grieving (Image: BBC)
Blue Planet viewers were devastated by the cruel effects of throwing plastic into the sea.
One said: "Am heartbroken at the sight of the whale and her dead calf. We must do more to stop this."
Another cried: "The most heart breaking thing I've ever seen, the whale mother carrying her dead baby made me cry like a baby but made me realise we need to do something about this now
A third sobbed: "Mumma pilot whale carrying her dead baby is heartbreaking. So sad. Please god can humanity change its actions."
Others were angry, calling for people to change.
One wrote: "The amount I’m crying over the baby whale dying in #BluePlanet2 because he ate plastic, I’d make a new ocean with them for the whales and ban humans."
Dragons Den star Deborah Meaden tweeted: "A grieving pilot whale carrying her dead baby for days.... oh I can't bear it.We have to change."
*Blue Planet continues on BBC1 at 8pm on Sunday
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22 MINUTES AGOLunamama
How many people who watched last night are going to make effective change? Buy bamboo toothbrushes, metal/bamboo straws, not use plastic bags in fruit and veg etc etc. It's all very well getting upset but are you/we going to change?
ReplyShare00
58 MINUTES AGONickDulic
Humans will destroy the Planet, ultimately.
ReplyShare10
3 HOURS AGOHenrysonHenry
No proof it was plastic that did this.
ReplyShare25
9 HOURS AGORamessesBrydson
haven't bothered with Attenborough for years, all dying animals in glorious slow motion HD
ReplyShare33
10 HOURS AGOTerryNorman
BAN ALL PLASTIC NOW !!!!!!!!!!
ReplyShare31
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