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A well-liked Thai interval drama is below investigation for suspected animal cruelty after a cat was sedated to indicate it had “died” on the present.
Mae Yua, or The Empress of Ayodhaya, follows Jinda as she competes with the king’s three international concubines to change into queen consort, in accordance with the present’s synopsis.
Within the fifth episode, a black cat referred to as Samli is made to drink a feminine character’s tea to see if it was spiked. Just a few moments later, the cat suffers convulsions and “dies”.
The scene sparked immediate backlash from animal rights teams and viewers who requested to know what was performed to the cat and demanded that the present be placed on maintain till an investigation was performed and the cat’s security and well being was assured.
Tv channel One31 mentioned in a press release that the cat was sedated for the scene and that its proprietor was current. The sedation was performed below the care of consultants from an animal modelling company, in accordance with The Bangkok Publish.
The present’s director Sant Srikaenlaw launched a press release on Fb apologising for the scene. “I’m deeply sorry for inflicting such an incident that has affected the emotions of all viewers, animal lovers, organisations, and people. I want to humbly settle for and thanks for all of the feedback which have helped me study, evaluation and replicate on the welfare of utilizing animals in filming,” he mentioned.
“This incident has taught me a lesson to pay attention to my tasks and the potential impacts of my work. I will likely be cautious to not let one thing like this occur once more. Any longer, I’m comfortable to cooperate in each investigation that can happen to be able to guarantee readability, transparency, and accuracy in each course of in a simple method. I want to sincerely apologise right here.”
In an earlier put up, the director had shared photos of the cat to indicate it was protected and aware. He mentioned he would take it for a well being verify himself, in accordance with The Bangkok Publish.
None of this has helped to pacify the viewers or the animal rights organisations.
“It’s like stabbing an actual human for a collection after which saying we rushed them to emergency and they’re fantastic,” mentioned one viewer on X, in accordance with South China Morning Publish.
One other demanded that the present not air and the channel shut down till the investigation concluded.
Bunyakrit Pinprasong, deputy director of the Livestock Division, mentioned on Monday he had requested the channel for a clarification in addition to for the names of the consultants that supervised the scene.
The channel was additionally requested to deliver the cat on this week in order that the division can conduct an intensive checkup.
The Veterinary Council of Thailand, which warned that sedation for pointless causes may hurt the animal’s life, mentioned it will take related motion.
Folks for the Moral Therapy of Animals, in a press release on social media, condemned the scene and referred to as for the director to be banned from working with animals sooner or later.
“Anaesthetising a cat when it’s medically needed at all times comes with a danger, so to do it for a scene in a TV present is reckless, harmful, and merciless. Sant Srikaewlaw ought to be barred from ever working with animals once more,” the assertion mentioned.
“The general public is rightly outraged, particularly realizing that immediately, something is feasible with CGI, AI, and animatronics. Cruelty has no place in leisure. If you happen to can’t make a TV present with out risking the lives of animals, you’re within the flawed enterprise.”
