Animal reality show starts debate on animal rights

Screenshot of the program. (Photo/People's Daily)

China's first animal reality show has sparked debate over whether appearing on television puts zoo animals in distress.

The reality show, titled Wonderful Friends, features movie stars and pop singers taking on the responsibilities of animal keepers and vets at the zoo. It has become one of the most viewed weekend shows in China.

The debate over animal protection was fueled after the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), an international organization with 300 zoos and aquariums from 50 countries, requested an immediate discontinuation of the program on Tuesday.

WAZA made an open statement saying the program, filmed at China's largest zoo by circus company Chimelong in southern Guangzhou province, places animals in "distressful and harmful situations, in order to create 'entertaining' story lines."

Six stars, including Li Yuchun, ambassador of WWF's worldwide movement Earth Hour for the China region, participated in a five-week "closed experience" at the zoo while filming the show.

During this time, participants acted as animal keepers under the guidance of professionals to take care of more than 20 animals, including koalas, chimpanzees, elephants, white whales, giraffes and giant pandas.

WAZA said the show dresses up chimpanzees and orangutans in human clothes and markets them as "cute pets".

Yan Dianya, director in chief of the show, responded to criticism by saying the show's original goal was to help establish emotional interaction between humans and animals.

"The program calls for public attention to animal loving and protection, and it is our responsibility to also address debates on animal issues," said the director.

She said she welcomed animal organizations to get in touch with the show's crew on how to better protect the animals.

"However, as a TV program, the crew has neither violated any animal protection laws and regulations, nor done harm to the animals," she said.

The crew developed the story lines from details provided by professional animal keepers at the zoo to give the show's animals more character and show their emotional side. Many "entertaining effects" were added during the editing and post-production process rather than during the shooting.

Chen Shuqing, a veteran animal keeper who provides professional consultation to the program, said the crew set up cameras in the zoo to get animals familiar with the monitors months before the program began filming. The animals were not frightened at any point during the filming.

Popular Chinese science website Guokr.com quoted zoologists as saying some plots in the program are not scientific and may mislead viewers.

For example, a baby chimpanzee raised by zookeepers was placed near its father in the program. A chimpanzee expert with the website said such a scene can be dangerous as the baby is deemed as a stranger to its father, and was therefore in danger of being attacked by the male chimpanzee. The male chimp's behavior reflected the expert's observation on the show.

He also pointed out that strangers petting the animals can also cause negative effects for the baby chimpanzee.

Some people also voiced concerns that, while the program attract interest in animals and share knowledge on their habits, it could also excite their desire to keep animals as pets, which is a driving force behind illegal animal trade worldwide.