An animal welfare group has knocked back donations from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here contestant Dean Geyer to protest against the way wild animals were treated on the show.
Neighbours star Geyer had nominated Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH) for his preferred charity after money was raised by viewers who voted to keep him in the jungle and on the show.
The welfare group – who fights against the captive breeding of lions for trophy hunting – told the reality show they would not accept money that was earned through segments involving the handling of lion and leopard cubs, as reported by TV Tonight.
CACH directors Chris Mercer and Linda Park said in a statement: “We were very happy to hear that Dean Geyer selected CACH has his charity of choice but we cannot endorse a program that sends out a wrong message to the public – that cub petting is OK.”
Their concern related to Episode 10 where Jo Beth was handling a five-week old white lion cub that had been abandoned by its mother. Dr Chris Brown said that the cub was part of a breeding program at Letaba River Lodge Eco Park in Tzaneen due to white lions being critically endangered.
CACH hit back at this, saying that the lion was actually part of a program for canned hunting, and that lions are never be released back into the wild. They said that cubs reared by Letaba are ultimately used as prey for wealthy animal hunters.
“It would seem that Network TEN has been duped by the same story told to thousands of gullible tourists and volunteers. Lion farmers/captive lion breeders are astute to hide the ultimate fate of their alternative livestock – canned hunting,” said Mercer and Park.
“This is because cub petting/lion walks etc are such a profitable spin-off from the main purpose that of rearing lions to huntable size,” they continued.
A Network Ten spokesperson said: “The production followed all due diligence procedures required by the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). ITV and Network Ten condemn any canned hunting of animals.”
They continued: “Letaba River Lodge Eco Park assured ITV Studios Australia that this cub, along with other lions, will remain on the reserve [and] that they do not partake in or associate with canned lion hunting or any other type of hunting. Letaba has lions on the reserve that are used for educational purposes, tourism and photography at events.”
But CACH again criticised this, saying that the “NSPCA has no authority to assess for ethics or for involvement in canned hunting,” and that Dr Brown and the show’s producers need to further do their research.
Geyer’s donation ended up going to South African anti-poaching charity Rhino Revolution.
Watch the segment below:
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