(IN): Jungle story!

[Guest guest]

http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_jungle-story_1275142

 

 

Jungle story!Prithwish Ganguly / DNA

Saturday, July 18, 2009 23:59 IST

 

*Mumbai: *Slamming the depiction of animals in TV reality shows, animal

rights activist and parliamentarian Maneka Gandhi has decided to raise the

issue with the Central government

 

" I'm going to write about this to Ambika Soni (Union I & B minister).

This has been going on for sometime now and something needs to be done.

There's a law in place but some people are taking advantage of the loop

 

holes. We need to act quickly and firmly. It's disgusting to see that

programmes that use animals as objects to shock viewers are aired, " Maneka

told*DNA*.

 

The immediate provocation for the move seems to be the new reality show Iss

Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao which shows ten celebrities roughing it out in the

jungles of Malaysia.

 

Danish Khan, marketing head of Sony Entertainment Television points out,

" The law says we (channels) can't shoot in India with animals and we aren't

doing that. If any new law is implemented, we will have no problems in

abiding by it. " But already, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

has protested against the channels using a legal loophole to beam programmes

that involve animals by shooting them outside India.

 

Says NG Jayasimha, campaign manager of PETA, " What is happening on Indian

television in the name of reality is absolutely illegal and against the

spirit of the existing law. On one hand we have a law that protects animals

and on the other there's a loophole. It defeats the purpose of protecting

animals. More and more shows are taking advantage of this. We need to have

an independent auditor for shows that are being shot abroad with animals and

that person should ensure that the show is following animal welfare norms. "

 

If matters do escalate, it won't be the participants saying " I*ss jungle se

mujhe bachao* " , but instead the channels crying " Maneka Gandhi *se mujhe

bachao*! "

 

*Animal instinct!

Khatron Ke Khiladi:* (Shot in Bangkok) Host Akshay Kumar was filmed leading

two leopards on a leash and then with a snake around his neck.

 

*Roadies: *(Shot in Australia) Contestants ate insects and reptiles and also

shot with alligators.

# Both shows are slated to start another season soon...

 

 

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