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David Attenborough fans 'devastated' by last episode of Seven Worlds, One Planet

From Digital Spy

Heartbreak has very much been the recurring theme of Sir David Attenborough's Seven Worlds, One Planet – and the finale was no exception.

Tonight's episode (December 8) detailed the horrific extent of Africa's ivory trade, with poachers putting animals such as elephants and rhinos at risk of extinction.

"Elephants have used their great intelligence to help them survive Africas driest times for millennia, but today they face an even greater threat," narrated Attenborough.

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

"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."

Attenborough then appeared alongside two northern white rhinos, revealing that they were the last of their kind and, since they were both female, they'd also be the last ever.

Scenes also showed a stockpile of tusks, providing an insight into the sheer scale at which animals have been killed for their ivory.

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

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

Once again, the series left viewers heartbroken as they flooded to social media, calling for an end to the stockpiling of ivory.

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

One viewer tweeted: "Heartbreaking to see how so many different species of animal are being forced into extinction all over the planet. As if global warming wasn't a big enough issue, there are still multiple countries killing animals for sport/ivory/tusks etc. Shameful."

While another wrote: "I cannot understand how people want to buy ivory? Why would you kill a beautiful innocent creature just for ivory!? And please don’t reply money. It’s absolutely disgusting. How can this be outlawed forever?"

Check out more reactions below.

Seven Worlds, One Planet aired on BBC One, but is still available to watch on BBC iPlayer.


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