Animals used in film and television production face distinctive welfare risks from training methods, set environments, and the demands of performance, requiring specialist oversight and welfare safeguards.
Film and television production creates unique welfare challenges for animal performers. Training for reliable performance under bright lights, loud sounds, unfamiliar people and complex set environments requires methods that must not compromise welfare - aversive training methods used to achieve reliable performance cause significant suffering. The stress of filming environments, the handling required for complex scenes, and the transportation involved in international production all represent welfare burdens. Welfare oversight on set - by genuinely independent monitors with authority to halt filming - is essential. The growing capability of CGI to replace live animals provides an opportunity to reduce animal use significantly in productions where welfare cannot be fully guaranteed.