The animal welfare group Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH) has knocked back the donation from I’m a celebrity, get me out of here contestant Dean Geyer in protest of the scenes showing the petting of lion and leopard cubs.

The program claimed that the cub was part of a breeding program at Letaba River Lodge Eco Park in Tzaneen. However, CACH (which fights against the use of captive lions for trophy hunting) claims that cubs reared by Letaba are ultimately used as prey for canned hunting.

CACH stated

“It would seem that Network TEN has been duped by the same story told to thousands of gullible tourists and volunteers. Lion farmers/captive lion breeders are astute to hide the ultimate fate of their alternative livestock – canned hunting,”

Network Ten responded that

“The production followed all due diligence procedures required by the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). ITV and Network Ten condemn any canned hunting of animals.

Letaba River Lodge Eco Park assured ITV Studios Australia that this cub, along with other lions, will remain on the reserve [and] that they do not partake in or associate with canned lion hunting or any other type of hunting. Letaba has lions on the reserve that are used for educational purposes, tourism and photography at events.”

But CACH disputes this and urges the show’s producers to do further research.

Geyer’s donation ended up going to the South African anti-poaching charity Rhino Revolution.

For the full story go to http://www.aww.com.au/latest-news/health/adult-fussy-eaters-id-rather-go-hungry-than-eat-something-i-dont-like-26053

This entry is filed under ar.