A tough but very important watch.
Aside from the usual superb production values, riveting information and amazing narration by Sir David Attenborough, the most recent episode of Blue Planet II deeply resonated with viewers because of one particular scene.
The image of a mother pilot whale grieving for her dead calf is practically impossible to forget. As Sir David Attenborough said :”It’s very likely that the infant was poisoned by her (the mother whale’s) own contaminated milk.”
If that wasn’t heartbreaking enough, the audience were then informed that “the loss of the infant has affected the entire family” and that unless humans change their attitudes to the oceans “marine life is going to poison them for many centuries to come.”
Again, it’s reported that around 8 million tonnes of plastic are dumped into the sea every year, affecting the lives of so many creatures.
Here’s the segment in full.
The official Blue Planet website has shared some important information on this crisis and how the public can help reverse this destructive pattern.
The most simple way to help is by spending two minutes picking up litter on the beach.
As Sir David Attenborough stated, the issue of microplastics in the ocean has now become critical.
Some of the world’s deepest living sea creatures have been found to have plastic in them including those off the Scottish coast. Researchers at the Scottish Association for Marine Science sampled creatures off the Western Isles and a staggering 48% were found to have plastic in them, at depths of up to 2,000m (6,561.8ft).
Given the severity of this footage, plenty of people were moved by the realisation that our seas are in an extremely precarious situation.
Can’t type. Heart broken. 😫 #BluePlanet2 pic.twitter.com/pfEmBqvNHz
— BBC One (@BBCOne) November 19, 2017
Planet Earth is mindbogglingly remarkable yet we seem to be doing our best to destroy it. We really do need to wake up and protect it before it’s too late. #BluePlanet2
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) November 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/brona_mcglock/status/932351686693269506
damn it this show is making me so emotional tonight – its horrible to see how much of an impact we as humans are having upon our oceans #BluePlanet2
— Laura-Amy (@thenamelessfish) November 19, 2017
A grieving pilot whale carrying her dead baby for days…. oh I can't bear it.We have to change. #BluePlanet2
— Deborah Meaden 🇺🇦 (@DeborahMeaden) November 19, 2017
The poor whale mother refusing to let go of her dead calf poisoned by plastic and chemicals 😭 #BluePlanet2
— Dr Beyer (she/her) 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🦋 (@beyer_char) November 19, 2017
I think David Attenborough has possibly seen more of this planet than any other human being in history, and it may be that nobody in the future ever sees as much#BluePlanet2
— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) November 19, 2017
https://twitter.com/fitasfudge/status/932351645190680576
https://twitter.com/JA_Wylie/status/932368698169491456
This interview is well worth your time.
David Attenborough saw "heartbreaking" plastic pollution during making of #BluePlanet2. Watch full interview here: https://t.co/Mf4R856OKa pic.twitter.com/E7nEd2Gn4P
— Unearthed (@UE) November 19, 2017
