In the 1939 movie western “Jesse James” a stuntman rode a horse off a 70foot high cliff into white water rapids. The stuntman lost his hat – the horse lost its life. Public outrage was such that the American Humane Association began a watchdog organization in LA, their Film and TV Unit, for the protection and humane treatment of all animals used in the motion picture industry. For more information go to www.ahafilm.org

In Australia an American film crew involved in the making of a Survivor episode in far north Queensland in the late 1990s got themselves into trouble when it became known that the program participants had been required to kill a chicken and a pig without first gaining any kind of permission from relevant authorities and without using any tool that would ensure the quick and painless death of these animals.

Animal Liberation Qld made a submission to the government on this issue. As a result of this submission and public concern, the Queensland government has prepared a Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals in Filmed Media (and this will include videos, CD etc). After extensive public consultation, this Code of Practice is currently in the final version. All that is required for it to come into legal force under the Queensland Animal Care and Protection Act 2001, is the finalisation of a Regulatory Impact Statement which should happen early in 2005.

Once in place, animal actors used in any filmed form of entertainment in Queensland will be protected and their use monitored, whether the filming company be Australian, British, American or any other nationality.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ANIMALS IN FILMED MEDIA
If you ever become aware of animals used in any form of filmed media WHERE THE FILMING WAS DONE IN QUEENSLAND that have been ill treated in any way, please contact the office of Animal Liberation Qld and provide full details of the situation.