ITV's I'm A Celebrity and animal treatment

[vole-woman]

Anyone else caught this show? I don't know if I'm being over-sensitive but I don't like the way the animals are treated during the "bushtucker trials" the contestants have to do. For instance, last night one woman had to get two bangles that had been threaded onto a pair of snakes. She was plucking at the snakes and jerking and screaming, and at one point pulling the bangle the wrong way against the direction of the snake's scales. In another scene she had to hold a live crayfish in her mouth and she kept spitting it out onto the ground.

I can't believe the animals aren't put under stress during these set ups. I also think it encourages people to see wildlife as a) feelings-free entertainment and b) something scary to shriek about.

[Meta menardi]

I believe the standard answer to this is "It's just a bit of fun". Not for the animals, or the participants or even 80% of the population. I would rather eat my own arm than watch the reality shows, and could probably get good viewing figures for it.

[faz]

never watchd it or any other similar show if they are mistreating animals it should be stoped

[vole-woman]

They get excellent viewing figures, that's the problem.

[Deb London]

I caught a bit of one programme and I have to admit I was quite concerned as there was some cruelty involved.

An example, as I see it. In this country there would be disgust if a gang of "yobs" filled a drain pipe full of them and them crawled all over them. But in the name of TV, celebrities are seen as being different, and Australia maybe has different rules. And we just put up with it.

[Jim Ford]

I saw it a couple of times when it first started and didn't like the idea of live creatures, no matter how 'humble', being used as playthings.

Jim

[vole-woman]

ITV's response:

Dear Ms Long

Thank you for your recent email regarding I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

I can confirm that your comments have been noted here at ITV Viewer Services.

The production of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! takes place in Australia. We have been in contact with the RSPCA NSW who have been notified of all the Bushtucker Trials involving mammals or reptiles – inspectors have an open invitation to attend the site at any time.

The production team for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! go to great lengths to plan and design the Bushtucker Trials, and rely upon detailed expert advice, which enables them to take appropriate steps to protect the welfare of animals. At each of the Bushtucker Trials, which feature animals or insects, we have qualified and experienced animal and insect wranglers on site and every trial has been carefully tested and developed.

The celebrities always receive a full briefing from the production team, health and safety advisors and the animal or insect wrangler/experts concerned before they encounter any animals.


May I take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to contact us here at ITV Viewer Services.

If we can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards

Mike
ITV Viewer Services

If you require any information to be provided in an alternative format for accessibility reasons, please do not hesitate to get in touch on 08448814150 or by emailing viewerservices@itv.com where we will be happy to discuss your requirement and / or endeavour to provide a suitable alternative.

[vole-woman]

And my reply:


And these experts didn’t pick up on the fact that dragging a metal band the wrong way against a snake’s scales, as Sinitta did last night, can cause the reptile pain? And if the animal being repeatedly flung to the floor had been a koala rather than a crayfish, would that have been all right?

Also, what about the impression you’re giving to viewers that the appropriate response to wildlife is hysteria? And that animals are basically nothing more than ‘comedy props’?

There’s no need to expose animals to this kind of stress in the name of the show. The human contestants sign up for these trails: the animals don’t.


Have written to Ofcom about it.

[Lindsay-c]

Finally someone else has picked up on this. I haven't been able to watch the past two series since I saw a bullfrog dropped from a height onto someones head and these things enrage me. There appears to be no consideration for the welfare of the animals used. Don't know why there hasn't been a wave of complaints and I don't know why the people of Britain find it entertaining when we are supposed to be of a nation of "bunny huggers". Disappointing to say the least.

[vole-woman]

The only way ITV will take note is if there are complaints from viewers, because this might affect their advertising revenue.