The use of live animals in film and television has a troubled welfare history. Modern oversight systems have improved standards, but significant welfare concerns remain in both domestic and international productions.
Animal welfare in film production operates in a complex regulatory environment where enforcement is inconsistent and financial pressures push against welfare standards. Animals used in film experience the stress of unfamiliar environments, loud sounds, lights, large crews, and unpredictable events. Training for film work often begins in early life using methods that range from welfare-positive reinforcement to aversive techniques depending on species, trainer, and jurisdiction. Between productions, animals may be kept in inadequate facilities with insufficient social and environmental enrichment. Aquatic scenes present particular drowning risks for terrestrial animals. The shift toward CGI for high-risk sequences is the single most effective welfare improvement in the industry, removing the animal from dangerous situations entirely.