Seven Worlds One Planet breaks hearts as Sir David Attenborough reveals ivory trade has killed off species

Seven Worlds, One Planet has ended on a heartbreaking note as Sir David Attenborough and team showed the horrific extent of Africa’s ivory trade.

Animals including rhinos and elephants have been left fighting for survival as cruel poachers catch and kill the creatures for their sought-after ivory.

Mountains of confiscated tusks taken from the animals were shown, piled into hills and representing thousands of animals who have been killed by the “sport” in the space of just one year.

‘Elephants have used their great intelligence to help them survive Africas driest times for millennia, but today they face an even greater threat,’ he announced.

‘It’s thought that as many as 20million elephants once roamed the continent but many have been killed for their tusks. Their ivory used for entirely ornamental purposes. Now just 350,000 elephants remain.’

Sir David, who has narrated this series, then appeared alongside two northern white rhinos to reveal they were the last of their kind, and as they were both female, would be the last ever.

‘When they die, and entire sub-species who inhabited the earth for millions of years would have disappeared forever,’ he declared.

Viewers were left heartbroken as the brutal truth was laid out in front of them, with other animals including cheetahs, monkeys and whales coming under threat because of humans.

Taking to Twitter, they all shared their frustrations at the loss of such beautiful creatures.

David Attenborough is sad and now that makes me feel sad 😢

We need to save this planet.#SevenWorldsOnePlanet

— michael. 🏳️‍🌈🌹☃️ (@MichaelM238) December 8, 2019

I’m not going to lie, the last line delivered by Sir David Attenborough whilst standing alongside the last two remaining female white rhinoceros made me well up. It’s so overwhelmingly obvious the planet is in crisis #SevenWorldsOnePlanet

— DUNCAN BURGESS (@DUN_CAN_B) December 8, 2019

#7Worlds So much ivory, so much death, so few chances to make things right. Anyone who even mildly refuses to listen to this man, is a fool. #7Worlds #SevenWorldsOnePlanet pic.twitter.com/EJa02W3boX

— Simon (@sbuitf) December 8, 2019

#SevenWorldsOnePlanet really brings it home that this planet doesn’t solely belong to us, gotta do better to protect it & wildlife. Will be so devastating if wildlife become extinct in our lifetimes. Don’t want to tell my kids one day that X animal used to exist 10 years ago 😔

— Florence Turkson (@FloTurkson) December 8, 2019

So sad in tears at what we’re doing to this planet, what an amazing series #SevenWorldsOnePlanet

— Sally Dyde (@sallydyde) December 8, 2019

so so sad, such majestic animals

— Spaniels Rule🐶🐶🐶🐶 (@Spaniels_Rule) December 8, 2019

https://twitter.com/joannebug2/status/1203755948457762818

Seven Worlds, One Planet has not been afraid to punch viewers in the gut over what the human race has done to affect the animal kingdom on all seven continents.

Starting with Antarctica, the show has tracked the effects of whaling, global warming, palm oil and deforestation, that could leave animals without homes.

Among the featured moments was a baby albatross who almost froze to death after being thrown from its nest, and an orangutan fighting machines as they tore down his habitat.

But there were also some lighter moments – like a penguin who crowd-surfed over a bunch of seals like an absolute boss, and the discovery of golden monkeys that Sir David had been waiting for 50 years to capture.

Seven Worlds, One Planet is available now on DVD, Blu-Ray, and to stream on BBC iPlayer. 

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