There are a number of animal advocacy groups, which spend a considerable amount of time making sure animals are treated in a humane fashion in the movies and on TV.There are many cases, where production companies take extra care when including animals in their projects.
Unfortunately, the American Humane Association's "No Animals Were Harmed" seal of approval can be misleading to audiences however.
PETA regularly receives reports from film-industry insiders concerning the AHA's inadequate oversight of the use of animals in film and television projects. It's been reported that in some cases, animals were harmed while AHA management looked the other way and was even complicit in arranging for the filming of sequences that were potentially dangerous to animals.
Attenborough not Happy
Now a venerable nonagenarian, TV broadcaster and naturalist, Sir David Frederick Attenborough continues to make an impact on the zeitgeist, with a long history of street red. Most recently, after viewing scenes on Bear Grylls’ current TV project, the legendary filmmaker was very blunt with his displeasure of Grylls' ethos, as it pertains to animals.
The latest series of Channel 4’s ‘The Island With Bear Grylls’ actually captured on film what many are calling shameful and an unnecessary killing of animals. The show filmed contestants slaughtering caiman crocodiles, pigs and turkeys during the series.
Sir David termed this type of hunting for the sake of entertainment as an act of murder.
“Bear Grylls will have to answer for himself. But I wouldn’t kill an animal just to get a shot,” asserted Sir David.
Gryllis Grilled
Gryllis’ show is not rooted in reality. Instead, this reality TV is based on a made-for-TV-premise. Making its celebrity contestants become cast-aways — it forces them to hunt down animals for food. Grylls had previously come under fire from animal advocates and PETA, especially after Olympian Iwan Thomas and former Corrie actor Ryan Thomas were filmed wrestling a crocodile and killing it with a knife. Additionally the network received hundreds of complaints after other episodes graphically showed participants slashing the throat of a sleeping pig.
Grylls’ show isn’t the only one criticized by Attenborough for this type of animal abuse. BBC presenter Chris Packham wrote an open letter to the makers of “I’m a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here!" pertaining to similar case.
“I know that you have consultants to advise on animal welfare, but I’m afraid I can guarantee that some animals are harmed during production, because they are fragile or easily stressed,” he wrote.. “Or simply killed, as they are in your ‘Bushtucker Trials’.”
So, what are your thoughts readers? Are filmmakers within their rights to have their viewers witness the killing of animals when they are seeking sustenance, or is this premise skewed soley for its entertainment value? Post below - we appreciate your feedback.
Primary Source: Attenborough criticizes Grylls
