Pirates of the Caribbean 5 Producers Ignore Concerns from Primate Experts and 80,000 Members of the Public
Back in February, primate charity Wild Futures and campaign partners at Animals Australia, Captive Animals’ Protection Society and Humane Society International Australia, raised serious concerns over the use of performing capuchin monkeys in the up-coming ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 5’ film, which is being filmed in Australia. The production team ignored expert concerns and imported 2 monkeys against clear evidence that the use of ‘primate actors’ seriously compromises individual welfare and may negatively impact public attitudes of their conservation status and desirability as pets.
The charity established an online petition which has reached almost 80,000 signatures, demonstrating that the public increasingly agrees that it is no longer acceptable to exploit primates in this way.
In the well-known film sequels ‘Jack the monkey’ is the pet monkey owned by the black-hearted Captain Barbossa and is played by a capuchin monkey. Although it may appear that this monkey is having a blast playing ‘pirates’ on set to the untrained eye, it is widely agreed by experts and leading animal welfare charities that the use of wild animals in the entertainment industry is detrimental to both animal welfare and public attitudes to animals. Wild Futures run a sanctuary in Cornwall for monkeys rescued from the pet and entertainment industries and say that concerns go far beyond the treatment of the animals on-set. The use of wild animals as actors is in many cases highly detrimental to welfare of the individuals involved in ways that can manifest throughout their lifetimes; while studies show that the use of wild animals as actors may even have a negative impact on the survival of animal populations in the wild, by increasing demand for that species as pets and by diminishing concern for their conservation in the wild.
Wild Futures’ Campaigns Officer, Cordelia Britton, said: “Many people who know nothing about these issues will find the scenes filmed with these capuchins funny or entertaining. However, we find that once people understand the cruelty behind this kind of animal exploitation, they prefer not to see animals treated in this way simply for our entertainment and we hope that the Production Team will listen and understand too.”
Photos of one of the capuchin monkeys being used in ‘Dead Men Tell No Tales’ have appeared online; shared by Martin Kleba who plays tough pirate Marty in the movie.
Ms Britton continued: “The capuchin in those photographs should be in the rainforests with its family, not restrained on a lead in an unfamiliar, unnatural environment. A film set is no place for such an intelligent, social animal and the life of a monkey ‘actor’ is sadly far removed from the life they should have.”
Wild Futures is calling on the production team to agree to not use any ‘primate actors’ in any future productions. The charity is encouraging members of the public to join the call for action asking the Producers, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, to respond to concerns and position themselves as one of the pioneers of animal welfare by making the pledge* to never use primate ‘actors’ in any future productions.
*www.animalpledge.org
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Notes to Editors:
About Wild Futures
Wild Futures (Charity reg. No. 1102532) is the educational and environmental charity promoting the welfare and conservation of primates as well as working to end the abuse of primates in captivity. Its flagship project, The Monkey Sanctuary, in Cornwall, is home to victims of the primate pet trade. The Monkey Sanctuary is the only Sanctuary in Europe accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) and is a founder and board member of EARS (European Alliance of Rescue Centres and Sanctuaries). Drawing on 50 years of primate expertise, Wild Futures acts as an advisory body to sanctuaries and conservation organisations in the UK and overseas and advises DEFRA on UK animal welfare legislation.
For more information or pictures, contact:
Cordelia Britton [email protected]
Tel; 0844 272 1271
www.wildfutures.org