A new series narrated by David Attenborough, Our Planet, has gained international viewers, and the most recent episode, in which a walrus falls to its death from what was once an icy mountain, showcases the devastating reality of global warming.
Our Planet, available on Netflix, is a documentary series that focuses on the diversity of habitats around the world, from the Arctic Wilderness, the depths of the ocean and the vast African landscapes, to the dense jungles of South America. It gives an in-depth look into the lives of the myriads of species that inhabitant these different environments, focusing on their daily lives and the challenges they face, from narwhals to frogs to cheetahs.
The most recent episode of the eight-part show has shocked viewers. It follows the largest gathering of walruses on the planet desperately massed together in the thousands on a single beach in the far northeastern coast of Russia, due to their shrinking ice habitats.
Due to global warming, their natural home on the sea ice has melted, and according to Attenborough, they’ve ‘retreated away to the north and this is the closest place to their feeding ground where they can find rest.’
In an effort to find a spot away from the thousands of walrus clambering on top of one another, some of these one-tonne animals head on to a steep cliff. Most of them fall to their death as they attempt to head down to the water to feed.
The footage captured is heart-wrenching – the walruses tumble and spiral down against the dry, rocky terrain, usually dying or being severely injured upon impact.
‘In their desperation to do so, hundreds fall from heights they should never have scaled,’ Attenborough says as he narrates.
The sad reality of climate change. The walrus with no ice or place to go.#Walrus #OurPlanet#ClimateChange #Climate pic.twitter.com/rnYUJ7lFLX
— Terrence Edwards (@TerrenceEdwards) April 9, 2019
Viewers shared their distressed and shocked reactions to the footage.
Literally full on sobbed to the walrus moment. This whole docu series is so heart breaking. #OurPlanet I wish as humans we can do more.
— 🌿▪ Jessica ▪ 🌿 (@Fernevie) April 5, 2019
If the Walrus scene in Our Planet doesn’t make you reconsider everything you’re doing to make climate change happen nothing will.
They’re doing this because of us. Jesus. pic.twitter.com/x6VcdJP6r4
— Elliot Hackney (@ElliotHackney) April 7, 2019
To those who say climate change isn’t a legitimate threat I implore you to watch just the second episode of Our Planet and watch a Walrus fall off a cliff it should never have had to scale were it not for its natural hahitat literally melting before them
— James Humphreys (@J_Humphreys16) April 5, 2019
Episode 2
The end of this episode is really heartbreaking 😭
The Walrus lost its habitats.The climate change is really happening.
What can we do?#OurPlanet pic.twitter.com/U5Ac7NpzkL— Iam Denied (@iamdenied) April 7, 2019
Image: Unsplash
