Planet Earth II's 'Cities' series finale had viewers in tears with the story of the plight of baby hawksbill turtles.

Planet Earth II's 'Cities' series finale had viewers in tears with the story of the plight of baby hawksbill turtles.

The episode has its own Pixar moment with emotional scenes featuring hatchlings making their journey towards the sea.

Normally they're guided towards the water by the moonlight's reflection on the sea but as cities are built up around beaches, the bright urban lights are causing confusion and making their journey treacherous.

Emotional scenes saw hundreds of hatchlings being crushed by cars or falling down drains as they made their way towards the city instead of the sea, disorientated by urban lights.

It was harrowing but necessary viewing as it reminded viewers that we are allowing animals to suffer by thoughtlessly encroaching on their habitats.

Devastated viewers took to Twitter to query the fate of the turtles who were filmed in the show.

@DearJane Every turtle that was seen/filmed by the crew, was collected and put back into the sea. And there is help https://t.co/3wqqoxjwfc — BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) December 11, 2016

“Every turtle that was seen or filmed by the #PlanetEarth2 crew was collected and put back into the sea,” BBC Earth confirmed on Twitter.

The BBC explained the Planet Earth crew broke convention to help the lost turtles because the problems they were facing were man-made.

The Barbados Sea Turtle Project is one of the many great causes fighting to protect our wildlife. #planetearth2 https://t.co/xokLUvqlNt — Charlotte Bostock (@C_Bostock) December 11, 2016

This was retweeted thousands of times, but one viewer questioned: “What about thereafter? Any local groups monitoring?”

The BBC had it covered, posting a video paying tribute to local conservationists the Barbados Sea Turtle Project, who helped the crew “enormously” and continue to rescue and fight for the turtles all year round.

The brave little stars of the first episode. Pic: BBC Planet Earth II Wild horses, or mustang, in Planet Earth II Credit: BBC Sunday night's Planet Earth captured the first ever recorded sighting of snow leopards mating in the wild. Wild horses battle for the watering hole and their pick of females. Pic: Planet Earth 2 The 'Medusa' snakes. Pic: BBC Planet Earth II The chase is on. Planet Earth 2 A young Nubian Ibex prepares to head down a steep cliff in search of water. Pic: BBC Planet Earth II The waterhole: planet Earth II Credit: BBC A glass frog fights off a wasp to protect his tadpoles. Pic: BBC Planet Earth II A sand grouse chick: Planet Earth II Credit: BBC A billion locusts: Planet Earth II Credit: BBC Horror hawks: Planet Earth II Credit: BBC Horror hawks: Planet Earth II Credit: BBC The desert chase on Planet Earth II Credit: BBC A lioness and a giraffe go head-to-head. Pic: Planet Earth 2 A leopard is caught on camera in the city streets of Mumbai. Pic: BBC Planet Earth II The Hawksbill baby turtles in Planet Earth II. Pic: BBC Stolen hearts. Pic: BBC Planet Earth II Murmuration of starlings over Rome. Pic: BBC Planet Earth II Raccoons are learning how to adapt to city life. Pic: BBC Planet Earth II Spotted hyenas prowl the streets of Harar. Pic: BBC Planet Earth II Cheeky langur. Pic: BBC Planet Earth II

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