VIDEO: BEAR GRYLLS’ TALK GOES TERRIBLY AWRY

PETA Supporters Interrupt Presentation to Protest Animal Slaughter on The Island

London – As survivalist Bear Grylls gave a talk at The Royal Institution in London today, a trio of PETA supporters ran onstage brandishing banners protesting the the cruelty to animals which took place during the filming of Grylls' TV show. The protesters confronted The Island With Bear Grylls host to let the startled audience know that Grylls' Channel 4 series recently shipped a pig to Panama specifically to have contestants slit her throat. Also, on a previous episode, contestants tracked down and killed an endangered American crocodile, an animal who is protected under the US Endangered Species Act.

These actions come in the midst of a campaign by PETA calling for Channel 4 to implement a comprehensive animal-welfare policy. Video footage of the protest is available here.

"There's nothing entertaining or excusable about shipping an animal overseas to slit her throat and eat her body on camera", says PETA Director Mimi Bekhechi. "PETA is calling on Channel 4 to adopt an animal-welfare policy immediately and make sure that no more animals suffer and die for 'entertainment.'"

As PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to abuse in any way" – has pointed out to Channel 4, had the pig-killing incident taken place in the UK, the contestants could have faced charges and, potentially, time in prison. PETA also notes that torturing and killing animals is a cruel way to attempt to boost ratings and sends an especially harmful message to young viewers, who are greatly influenced by what they see on TV.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.