Films where animals have been harmed or killed include, but are not limited to: A Dog’s Purpose, Heaven’s Gate, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, The Adventures of Milo and Otis, Life of Pi, and Speed Racer. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is one of the worst offenders in recent memory when it was revealed that 27 animals died on the set of the production.
Ironically, Water For Elephants, with the plotline surrounding elephants being abused for entertainment, used real elephants who were really abused to perform on set. Like elephants used for performances worldwide, the star of Water For Elephants, Tai, was subjected to cruelty and abuse with bull hooks and electroshocks.
Thankfully, more filmmakers are opting for computer generated imagery (CGI) including in the blockbusters Dumbo, The Jungle Book, and Planet of the Apes (2011 and 2017). Companies such as Wonderful Pistachios, Yellow Tail, Geico, and Mercedes-Benz have made compassionate commercials with CGI animals including elephants, kangaroos, geckos, and tortoises.
What you can do:
If you’re a producer, director, or actor, reach out to World Animal Protection to sign our Wildlife Statement of Intent, pledging that you will never use or work with live wild animals on set. To contact, email JulieCappiello@worldanimalprotection.us.
To learn more and get involved with World Animal Protection’s Wildlife. Not Entertainers campaign, click here.
