I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here

I’m A Celebrity Accused Of Animal Cruelty, As Animal Charity Rejects Donation

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We knew this was coming.

A welfare group has rejected a donation from I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! in protest over the reality show’s handling of wild animals.

As reported by TV Tonight, Campaign Against Canned Hunting was Glee star Dean Geyer‘s nominated charity – a group which fights against the captive breeding of lions for trophy hunting –  but the charity told the network it did not want money earned through broadcasting segments involving the handling of lion and leopard cubs.

Image via TV Tonight

Image via TV Tonight

The specific scene in question is when Jo Beth Taylor underwent something called the ‘feral foot fetish challenge’, whereby Taylor had to attempt to identify African wildlife with her feet.

CACH are concerned about where the critically-endangered white lion cub was sourced, alleging links to the trophy hunting industry – exactly what the group rallies against.

Co-host Dr Chris Brown stated on air that the cub had been abandoned by its mother and was raised as part of a conservationist breeding program. However CACH claims that the Letaba River Lodge Eco Park in Tzaneen runs a purely commercial operation that does not involve releasing lions back into the wild and the fate of cubs would be used as prey for wealthy game hunters.

“It would seem that Network Ten has been duped by the same story told to thousands of gullible tourists and volunteers,”

said CACH Directors Chris Mercer and Linda Park.

Network Ten have since released a statements saying:

“Network Ten, along with ITV Studios Australia, the producer of I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, strictly follow the guidelines as stipulated by the governing authorities, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), to ensure all animals used on set are handled calmly, correctly and safely.”

Nevertheless, the show builds itself, makes its money and ratings on the questionable or at times straight out exploitative treatments of animals, often using reptiles and other animals as shock devices without considering their welfare.

It isn’t the first time the I’m A Celebrity franchise has been accused of mistreating animals, last year in the UK a contestant ate a live spider on air which resulted in a public outcry. While a petition against the animal cruelty on the show has garnered thousands of signatures on Change.org.

But it is even more questionable that the Australian format is hosted by veterinarian Dr Brown- who as it stands is yet to make a statement regarding the rejected funds.