Blue Planet II viewers couldn’t hold back the tears last night after watching a whale carry its dead newborn across the ocean. The heart-wrenching scene also saw other adult whales refusing to feed in apparent sympathy after the calf was believed to be poisoned by his mother’s polluted milk.

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Sir David Attenborough’s narration then explained how the food chain was contaminated with toxic plastic as we "dump eight million tonnes of plastic into the sea every year", putting a "vast number of creatures" in danger.

Viewers at home were left reaching for the tissues…

And the scene spurred many to become more environmentally friendly...

And although the Blue Planet II team have addressed the problem...

There’s plenty everyone can do to make a difference...

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Blue Planet continues on Sunday at 8pm on BBC1

Authors

Thomas LingDigital editor, BBC Science Focus

Thomas is Digital editor at BBC Science Focus. Writing about everything from cosmology to anthropology, he specialises in the latest psychology, health and neuroscience discoveries. Thomas has a Masters degree (distinction) in Magazine Journalism from the University of Sheffield and has written for Men’s Health, Vice and Radio Times. He has been shortlisted as the New Digital Talent of the Year at the national magazine Professional Publishers Association (PPA) awards. Also working in academia, Thomas has lectured on the topic of journalism to undergraduate and postgraduate students at The University of Sheffield.

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