Bear Grylls reality show at centre of animal cruelty row

Bear Grylls' new reality survival show is continuing to court controversy.

TV adventurer Bear Grylls is at the centre of an animal cruelty row as it emerged pigs were specially shipped to an island to be slaughtered by contestants on his reality show for "entertainment".

Many viewers were distressed by a scene in The Island which saw a sleeping pig captured and killed on camera. It was the third pig slaughtered on the show in two weeks.

In an earlier episode, two piglets were killed for food after they fell ill.

Channel 4 admitted that producers put the domestic animals on the island for the contestants to hunt and kill.

Animal rights campaigners claim pigs are not afraid of people so do not run away when threatened.

The RSPCA accused the show of killing pigs for entertainment.

A spokesman said: "The RSPCA opposes practices that cause animals pain, suffering or death in the name of entertainment. It's unacceptable and could easily cause great distress to the animals. There's no excuse for using animals in stunts that carry a high risk of them being harmed."

Animal rights charity Peta said: "Killing animals is a cheap ratings ploy and sends an especially harmful message to young viewers, who are greatly influenced by what they see on TV. Bear Grylls and the producers should be prosecuted. Fame doesn't mean immunity."

Commentators on Twitter shared their outrage.

Absolutely disgusted with @BearGrylls #theisland for killing pigs. #animalcruelty #AnimalRights the island should be axed!!!!!!!!!!!

— Hols. 💋 (@holly_dawson7) May 10, 2015

Disappointed that The Island with Bear Grylls won a BAFTA after it imported pigs to the island to be killed for entertainment #AnimalRights

— Georgina Hayes (@GeorginaHayes10) May 10, 2015

@BearGrylls you should hang your head in shame....Putting tame pigs on the island for contestants to kill. Shocking cruelty. Disgusting.

— Robert Davidson (@robdavidson74) May 10, 2015

Earlier in the series, contestants killed an endangered American crocodile, thinking it was a common caiman.

A Channel 4 spokesman said: "All islanders were trained in the humane capture and dispatch of animals. They decided they needed to eat or risk being unable to continue."

It's not the only outcry over Grylls' new show: viewers complained of feeling sick during season one of the show when two contestants were administered painful enemas.

It has already faced accusations that part of the show had been staged along with accusations that those taking part in the reality show had taken part in similar survival challenges and were not "ordinary men".

There were claims of sexism when the show was first announced, with its all-male cast for season one criticised.

The first season of the show aired on TV One in New Zealand.

- Daily Mail