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Report crueltyRecord numbers back RSPCA's Ofcom campaign on I'm a Celeb's animal use
10.12.21
More than 12,000 people have now sent an email to Ofcom complaining about the use of live animals in this year's series of 'I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!'.
Supporters can email Ofcom about their concerns via the RSPCA website.
The numbers backing the RSPCA's campaign this year has now surpassed the 11,800 who took action during the last series, when the programme was filmed in North Wales for the first time.
RSPCA welfare experts have been closely monitoring this year's show - and have already seen a large number of '`Bushtucker Trials' featuring the use of live animals take place.
Animals like rats, lizards and snakes are likely to have been subject to stress while being surrounded by screaming, panicked celebrities in small, confined spaces as part of trials.
Different species of animal - such as snakes and rats - have been placed in close proximity during trials, potentially causing significant stress to both species. Animals have also been handled inappropriately by contestants.
Trials often take place outside - and with temperatures having dropped over recent weeks, the RSPCA is also concerned this environment is unsuitable for animals such as lizards and snakes that cannot produce their own body heat, with it being unclear whether suitable sources of heat and light are being used.
Invertebrate animals - not covered by the Animal Welfare Act - are also routinely at risk of being crushed during trials; something the RSPCA says risks "trivialising" the lives of animals.
Dr Ros Clubb, from the RSPCA's wildlife department, said:
We're overwhelmed by the response from the public to our campaign against the use of live animals in the I'm a Celeb show.
More than 12,000 have already written to Ofcom to express concern - with the reaction from the public even stronger than last year, when the programme was filmed in North Wales for the first time.
Recent weeks have once again seen many live animals put in situations that would compromise their welfare for nothing more than a quick laugh - and once again we've been really worried about what we have seen.
Naturally solitary species have been grouped together in confined spaces, different species have been mixed in stressful situations, animals have been put into confined spaces alongside panicked celebrities and thousands of insects and other invertebrates have been poured on top of campers and risk being crushed.
The way insects and other animals are used also trivialises the lives of these animals - at a time when debates around animal sentience are more prominent in society than ever before.
Previously, the RSPCA wrote to the production company behind the show urging them to stop using live animals, and instead entertain the animal-loving UK public without resorting to anti-animal Bushtucker Trials.
The programme airs until Sunday (12 December) - but could return to UK shores again next year, and the RSPCA hopes those behind future editions of the series will "update, re-think and modernise" the programme to end compromising situations for the welfare of animals.
Ros added:
We continue to call on those behind this programme to update, re-think and modernise - so we no longer put animals in these situations. The response to our campaign shows a huge number of people across the UK agree with us.
The programme has aired at a time when legislation is going through parliament to fulfill a UK Government pledge to recognise animal sentience in UK law - and there are calls for the Welsh Government to do the same in Wales too.
