End the needless cruelty to animals on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get me out of here'
End the needless cruelty to animals on 'I'm a Celebrity... Get me out of here'
The Issue
With average viewing figures in the tens of millions, 'I'm A Celebrity' should be doing a lot more to showcase wildlife in all its glory, rather than using it as a form of cheap entertainment. ITV needs to rethink the way in which it uses animals in their "Bushtucker Trials", although not being cute and cuddly, many of the animals used in the show can feel pain and fear. It is not acceptable that such inhumane treatment should be broadcast on national television for all to see.
Since its first broadcast in 2002, the use of animals and insects has been an integral part of the show. It seems however that in the fourteen years it has been on air, it has failed to develop and mature into a show that promotes wildlife in a responsible manner, instead subjecting animals to cruel mistreatment and suffering. In spite of claims that the show works alongside experts to ensure they are abiding by local animal rights legislation, it is clear to see that they are tiptoeing very close to the boundaries of what is acceptable. In recent years, several cases of cruelty have caused national outrage, such as 2015's Bushtucker Trial that saw Ferne McCann eat a LIVE spider(1) and the 2009 case in which a rat was killed and cooked.(2) This year's challenges haven't exactly fared any better... (3)
The animal rights organisation PETA, stated how 'Time and time again, the programme has shown a complete disregard for sentient life and a lack of creativity, evidenced by the fact that it has repeated the same tacky and inhumane stunts for more than a decade.' The TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham, eloquently summarised the other issues with the use and abuse of animals on the show, stating how "animals such as snakes, spiders, crocodiles, rats and many invertebrates are already misunderstood and thus unfortunately vilified, despite the incredibly important roles they play in the world’s ecosystems and our lives. By orchestrating a fear of them among your contestants, I’m afraid you’re reinforcing and exaggerating a terrible ignorance and intolerance of these remarkable animals. What particularly frustrates me is that this counters and undoes all the education that I and my colleagues strive to achieve in our natural history programmes.
It is about time that ITV's flagship show reforms its relationship with wildlife. Please sign this petition and ask them to stop the animal cruelty showcased week in week out, and bring an end to such a destructive and inhumane aspect of a show which could otherwise be a great show.
1) http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/ferne-mccann-eats-live-spider-6964825
2) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8398734.stm
3) http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/im-celebrity-accused-animal-cruelty-9274878
The Issue
With average viewing figures in the tens of millions, 'I'm A Celebrity' should be doing a lot more to showcase wildlife in all its glory, rather than using it as a form of cheap entertainment. ITV needs to rethink the way in which it uses animals in their "Bushtucker Trials", although not being cute and cuddly, many of the animals used in the show can feel pain and fear. It is not acceptable that such inhumane treatment should be broadcast on national television for all to see.
Since its first broadcast in 2002, the use of animals and insects has been an integral part of the show. It seems however that in the fourteen years it has been on air, it has failed to develop and mature into a show that promotes wildlife in a responsible manner, instead subjecting animals to cruel mistreatment and suffering. In spite of claims that the show works alongside experts to ensure they are abiding by local animal rights legislation, it is clear to see that they are tiptoeing very close to the boundaries of what is acceptable. In recent years, several cases of cruelty have caused national outrage, such as 2015's Bushtucker Trial that saw Ferne McCann eat a LIVE spider(1) and the 2009 case in which a rat was killed and cooked.(2) This year's challenges haven't exactly fared any better... (3)
The animal rights organisation PETA, stated how 'Time and time again, the programme has shown a complete disregard for sentient life and a lack of creativity, evidenced by the fact that it has repeated the same tacky and inhumane stunts for more than a decade.' The TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham, eloquently summarised the other issues with the use and abuse of animals on the show, stating how "animals such as snakes, spiders, crocodiles, rats and many invertebrates are already misunderstood and thus unfortunately vilified, despite the incredibly important roles they play in the world’s ecosystems and our lives. By orchestrating a fear of them among your contestants, I’m afraid you’re reinforcing and exaggerating a terrible ignorance and intolerance of these remarkable animals. What particularly frustrates me is that this counters and undoes all the education that I and my colleagues strive to achieve in our natural history programmes.
It is about time that ITV's flagship show reforms its relationship with wildlife. Please sign this petition and ask them to stop the animal cruelty showcased week in week out, and bring an end to such a destructive and inhumane aspect of a show which could otherwise be a great show.
1) http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/ferne-mccann-eats-live-spider-6964825
2) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8398734.stm
3) http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/im-celebrity-accused-animal-cruelty-9274878
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Petition created on 18 November 2016