London, June 29 (ANI): Director of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, Danny Boyle, has sought to assuage People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) over concerns about the welfare of animals who will feature in his 27 million pound show.
In response to concerns raised by six animal welfare groups, Boyle has sent a letter to PETA's founder Ingrid Newkirk offering a range of assurances over plans to use live animals in his Isles of Wonder-themed opening ceremony and promised to remove them from the stadium early.
According to The Guardian, after revealing earlier this month that 12 horses, three cows, two goats, 10 chickens, 10 ducks, nine geese, 70 sheep and three sheepdogs would be part of the opening scene, animal rights campaigners claimed it could breach the Animal Welfare Act by subjecting them to undue distress.
Boyle said that "genuine care will be taken of the animals" who "will feature only in the very beginning of the show during daylight hours and will leave the stadium shortly after the 9 pm start and before any large effects or noisy sequences take place". he Slumdog Millionaire director also promised that he would "follow up vigorously" concerns about the fate of the animals after the show, to ensure they were safely retired to animal sanctuaries.
However, the group said that Boyle's reply did not fully address their concerns.
"We are satisfied that the animals won't now end up in an abattoir and that much more attention is now being paid to their welfare," said a spokesman.
"But their transport and the stress of unfamiliar surroundings as well as their use as props rather than sentient, sensitive individuals have still not been addressed," they added. (ANI)
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