Animal Welfare & TV shows (genuine concerns)
England is a nation that adores animals. Yet in recent years, it has become the norm to laugh at celebrities who eat live insects (which provide food for other creatures in jungles, thus upsetting ecosystems).
And to eat kangaroo penises (Aussie wildlife campaigners have enough work trying to stop abuse of their hopping friends, without TV companies adding to the mix).
Do you remember that lovely tall rescuer of kangaroos, a few years back on a TV show in Alice Springs? He drives around finding joeys that have lost their mothers, then raises them in ‘pillowcases’ to replicate the pouch. Feeding them several times a night, to eventually release them back to the wild?
Their mothers have been not just been killed by road accidents, but often due to hunting. And the ‘kangaroo penis’ that everyone laughs about contestants eating, may well belong to the father of one of the little charges of Brolga and his wife. Do you wish to be complicit by watching such TV shows?
Each year, Ofcom receives thousands of complaints about the ‘I’m a Celebrity’, but its huge popularity and ad revenue, means that nobody listens. Chris Packham recently wrote an open letter to the producers (viewed over 1 million times) asking the makers to finally can a program he says has had its day:
Circuses have gone, dancing bears have gone, cock-and-dog fighting are the sad preserve of psychopathic criminals. We have no performing dolphins and no chimpanzees dressed up for tea time. The cruel exploitation of wildlife for gratuitous entertainment, continues to damage the reputation of a ‘nation of animal lovers’.
Although ITV states that it ‘complies with the laws of Australia’s RSPCA’, our own RSPCA is concerned, and has frequently asked producers to stop harming creatures, in the name of raising the profile of has-been politicians.
RSPCA has also raised concerns about many of the creatures featured in the program, being frequently chased, dropped or living in overcrowded conditions. And gives the message that insects are of no value. In facts insects are vital to ecosystems, and one of the most important species on our planet.
Recently there were huge complaints about another TV program hosted by Ant and Dec, after they take their ‘squeamish’ friend Stephen Mulhern on holiday to South Korea. He is asked to touch a live traumatised octopus in a wet market. All in the name of ‘fun’. And yet ITV is commissioning three more series.
Money could be spent to help animals
ITV often pays huge amounts of money to ‘secure’ contestants for the show (disgraced MP Matt Hancock was paid £350,000) with one contestant apparently receiving £1.5 million for participating. The charity World Animal Protection gives information on how this amount of money could instead be used:
- Put pressure on world leaders to end the global wildlife trade.
- Stop big cats being exploited for trophy hunting (remember Cecil the lion?)
- Power campaigns to end cruel treatment of elephants for tourism
- Maintain and refurbish sanctuaries for bears rescued from the bile industry
- Improve public awareness on why to avoid tourist aquariums (and fund ocean sanctuaries)
- Fund work with governments and food producers to end factory farming.
In England, it’s now illegal to hunt foxes or produce fur or foie gras, yet still one of the most popular TV shows involves harming animals for ‘entertainment’.
When panicked contestants are crawling through mazes with insects, spiders and snakes all around them, and having uncontrollable reactions like shaking, flicking hands and moving carelessly, it’s impossible that none of the animals are harmed. Is festive television the forgotten bloodsport? Surge Activism
Other animal welfare TV show concerns
It’s lovely to watch a program on animals, but we have to be careful not to let the media overrun programs, when sometimes the information is not helpful.
For example, although the programs are presented by nice people, experienced dog trainers are concerned over ‘celebrity dog training TV series’ as some use outdated methods like choke chains, which have injury risks, and also would not work for the average person with a badly-behaving pooch.
Having reality programs with ‘entertaining pets’ may sometimes be okay if the dog or whatever creature enjoys it. But many animals are likely terrified by all the bright lights and screening.
Cooking and baking programs are popular. But are the ingredients being used from free-range animals? Nobody knows, same with cooking shows.
Simon Cowell (not that one) who founded Wildlife Aid, was appalled at TV shows that disturbed wildlife, in order to create programs for entertainment. He only ever approached wild creatures to help them (often getting bitten and scratched in the process – he was bitten by hedgehogs, gored by deer and had an owl’s talons embedded in his scalp).
But that was because he was involved in wildlife rescue. Not approaching creatures for entertainment. He was firm that wild creatures should be left alone, unless they need help.
