As an aspiring filmmaker, I'm know what it's like to try to attain a sense of realism. I've never made a short-length or feature-length film, though I intend to try when I enroll in a four-year college next year. That said, there is always a line when trying to attain realism, and hurting living creatures for entertainment's sake crosses that line. Even in the 21st Century, some self-indulgent "artists" think a movie screen is the same thing as the ancient Roman Colisseum, where animals killed for sport constitutes as fun; it's not. That thought process is reckless and stupid. It makes one wonder to what lengths the directors of movies like "Heaven's Gate", "Flicka", and "Cannibal Holocaust" (a 1980 movie that was banned in Italy, Australia, and the UK, partially because six animals were killed on camera--whoever wrote the timeline of animal cruelty in film, take note) will go.

I am amazed to hear (and see) that after 25 years of the CBC original investigation, this is still going on today! It's usually media that forces change, what's it going to take? How sad and shame on the entertainment industry.

After seeing this program, i refuse to purchase the popular documentary "Planet Earth" (which i was going to purchase prior to this program), and will probably never see a wildlife documentary the same way again! How can one person's actions like myself make a difference in such a money hungry business like the entertainment industry?!

Please keep the pressure on this unfair and disgusting practise by repeating the topic through your programming. Thank you.

This show about animal cruelty was so difficult to watch. At one point I had to turn off the TV when they were going to show animals which were sent to the labs. I only buy products that are not tested on animals and try to make others aware of this abuse whenever I have the opportunity. Why are there so few companies that don't test their products on animals? I decided to turn the TV back on no matter how sad I felt as this story must be told. We have to do our part to tell our friends
to watch and tell their friends.

I am appalled at the lack of compassion the entertainment world has when filming these beautiful animals. I always thought the animals were treated with love and kindness behind the cameras. Thank you CBC for opening my eyes to the real truth.

Congratulations for bringing forward such an insightful albeit devasting story. This story moved me to the point that I will no longer watch any television show or movie featuring any Chimps, and further would like to join any activist group in favour of abolishing this use of animals in film completely. Thanks so much for opening my eyes on this issue. I have been telling everyone I know.

Thanks to the CBC for airing the program Cruel Camera. Programs such as this one that educate on the treatment of animal species other than human is critical for humans in understanding our true place in this world.

It is encouraging to see, just by viewing the posts in this forum, that this program has had a positive effect already in that information has been provided with which individuals can make huge steps by themselves, simply by being educated enough to make a more compassionate decision.

At the end of the day, it is every choice that we make as individuals that we need to scrutinize for the effects these choices will have on all living beings. The time is ripe that humanity realized there is other intelligent life in the universe, and they share everything with us, this planet, this life, this breath, even much of the same DNA. We have effectively been using and abusing our brothers and sisters and it is time for us to wake up.

Thank you - please keep providing this type of excellent programming!

First off, thank you, CBC, for this insightful program. From the message board, I see that the injustice toward our animal brothers and sisters has lit something of a fire under some people. Sometimes it takes fire to bring action.

I agree, however, with K. Candela...it would have been better if you had warned us of the graphic violence. Witnessing the death of the elephant was flat-out HORRIBLE. I had to change stations for a while before I could resume watching the remainder of your program.

The program left me feeling awful for the abused animals who are still stuck in dreadful situations. And
it was discouraging to learn that even with people on sets who are supposed to ensure that animals are not harmed during filming, animals are still not being protected.

What I CAN do is to keep lighting the little corner of the world where I reside. There are no current or retired movie animals where I live...at least as far as I know. I volunteer with our local Humane Society in giving "throw-away" animals a second chance at having a good life- by being adopted out to homes where they'll be loved and cared for for the rest of their natural lives.

Your program gave me a boost to "keep on keeping on." Thank you.

I cannot believe North America. After watching Cruel Camera this evening it has deeply disturbed me that my children and myself enjoyed movies that contained these beautiful monkeys. Thank God for people like Jane Goodall . It is utterly disgraceful that we can hold our heads high and continue to ignore the mere fact that this is allowed to go on in our countries. What is wrong with people.

I also agree that absolutely something has to be done about the abuse to the animals we raise for food. It is shameful that these people are allowed to treat these animals in such a way. Do they have any feelings whatsoever? I honestly don't know what I can do, but if someone knows where I can start please do let me know.

This has to stop and Disney shame on you for calling yourselves a family company. You are a prime example of greed and would go to the length of torturing an animal to make more of your riches. You won't find my family supporting your abuse any longer. Please help save the animals. Don't wait another day!

Thank you for producing this documentary. I am sure that when the public becomes knowledgeable about the plight of 'entertainment' animals, they will not tolerate this abuse. We must be kinder to the vulnerable populations of this world.

This evening I had watched your program "Cruel Camera". I had remembered watching those Wild America shows, the Disney ones too! I never thought about how today, where we live in such a "civilized" (so they say) world, that we could be so harmful to the creatures that we share our Country/State/planet with for the sole purpose of a buck!
All I could think about is how close they are to us, how we treat them like commodities, SLAVES ~ you do remember!
I hope this program can do more that just recieve ratings and create a little water-cooler conversation.

An enlightening look at the use of animals in the entertainment industry, but how the Fifth Estate implicitly defined 'entertainment' was unfortunately misleading. Certainly, we don't only entertain ourselves with film and television; we also entertain ourselves with fine dining, filling meals, and the long tradition of cooking and preparing food.

Therefore, what we mean by 'entertainment' should be expanded to include our culinary delights, and it's no surprise to anyone that animals' flesh is central to these delights. In other words, if we're going to get upset about how animals are treated in the entertainment industry narrowly defined as the use of animals in film and television (and we definitely should), certainly we're all reflective enough to recognize that each time the vast majority of us sit down to eat we contribute to the abuse of animals for entertainment?

So, on one hand I commend the Fifth Estate for its segment on the exploitation and abuse of animals in the entertainment industry. But I demand that the Fifth Estate take one more step and perhaps do a segment on the factory farming industry, on the 'entertainment' of food in the form of animal flesh. If we get upset about a chimpanzee behind bars for its life, what about a baby lamb stuck in a dark factory farm its entire life, taken from its mother, only to be slung and its throat slit after being 'stunned'? If the cheap laugh of a chimp in a movie doesn't warrant its abuse, why does our palate?

Come on Fifth Estate and everyone else who has been moved by this segment, let's take the next logical step here, and look at the really scary and disturbing issue: the mass abuse and slaughter of animals each day for the selfish satisfaction of the entertainment of our silly little palates.

It's time we put an end to our moral and empathetic schizophrenia when it comes to the use and abuse of animals.

The problem is there are so many important causes in the world that require our attention and so many people that choose ignorance over actual facts that animal abuse,both to wild or domesticated animals, often is ignored. I truely believe that a good majority of people really don't think these things happen to animals or, even more sad, that the abuse or stress doesn't hurt the animals both physically and emotionally.

I was horrified to see the Disney production of the polar bear sliding down the hill and then see it hit the rocks. I remember seeing that film, ages ago, and thinking, "oh, is that ever cute!" Of course I didn't see the original take of the bear hitting the rocks and tumbling ass over tea kettle. Nor did I know that they actaully made a fake hill and put the bear at the top. It made me sick to my stomach to see the entire take. The poor bear was likely terrified.

And those lemmings, those poor lemmings. I really thought this really happend!, lemmings jumping over a cliff. I am so angry at Disney for fooling me this way. I wonder how those children that collected all those lemmings feel about it today? The "Wild Kingdom" also fooled me. I am so angry to now know that I participated in uping the ratings as a child watching these programs with keen intrest. I contributed to the abuse, it sickens me.

Along these same lines we must also remember that the animals we eat suffer no less cruelty during their life span.

I vow to never watch a movie with animals in it. I will leave the theatre or bring rented movies back and get my money returned if I find that they feature animals.

My question, how do we know what nature programs are real and cruelty free?

After Sarah Baeckler went to Sid Yost's facility to investigate my concerns about Sosa, she wrote an account about "how his face was beaten and swollen". It is so hard to bear thinking of his sweet, beautiful little face all puffy and the suffering he endured. My question is " why was he not immediately seized?".

I cried and cried and cried after seeing the elephant electrocuted, and unfortunately I could only watch 1/4 of the documentary. I have always been one of those people who wouldn't even step on an ant, so for me this was too much for my mental stability. I would have liked a warning that the images were not for sensitive viewers. At the same time, I understand that people will not be moved to take action unless they 'feel' moved to do so. I will never watch a movie with animals in it again. But I would like to do more, and am not sure how??? Love a list of suggestions from those of you who are more active.

I can't watch another video watching animals being abused. I know what they do, and it is a tragedy. I have spent many sleepless nights at my computer writing letters, thinking about all of this. I nor my Grandchildren will ever watch another movie with animals in it. The abuse is never ending, it's a different world, and the bottom line is money. When they start losing money making movies using animals, it will end. Write your Senators, if they won't listen, keep writing until someone does. We just can't give up, we need to do everything we can to help these animals.

Wanda Perry

I wonder if I had approached Fifth Estate about Sosa, a chimpanzee, years earlier if he would not still be alive. Instead I contacted welfare animal groups about my fears for Sosa's safety and one of them, the DDAL, sent in an undercover Primatologist, Sarah Baeckler, who was featured on your show talking about Sosa's place.

However, the whole story was not told..about how Sosa died under mysterious circumstances from a rattlesnake bite. Some of the questions I want answered are: Why was Sosa alone at the time he was bitten? Was there an Insurance Policy on him? And if it was really a tragic accident why did the USDA who were doing inspections not make sure that all the chimpanzee enclosures enclosures was protected from the rattlesnakes around them? I mentioned this rattlesnake danger in one of my reports to the Chimp Collaboratoy and if I was aware of all the rattlesnake holes, then so was the USDA?

If the Fifth Estate does a follow up on this show, perhaps I may interest you in Sosa's Story. Please see www.myspace.com/sosafoundation and my website www.leslie-ann.com for more information on Sosa.

While it is too late for Sosa, I hope that Sosa's story will help all the other Sosa's out there. And Justice for Sosa.

It was heartbreaking to watch the abuse ongoing- all in the name of entertainment. I hope people see these documentaries and open their eyes to what is going on. Until people stop contributing money by watching, buying, attending events/movies that are using animals this will go on-it is all about making money at any cost. My co workers always laugh at me when the circus comes to our town and I try to convince them not to go. Don't teach your children that this is acceptable. I love animals and commend all the organizations trying to help them. Thank you for the program as this really was an eye opener.

There is seemingly no limit to the extent people will go to make a buck. The fact that these innocent eager to please creatures are taken away from thier parents to toil in a short lived career of exploitation only to be cast aside when no longer of use is only marginally offset by the good work of those who try to save them. There should be a law that says that those who are caught mistreating animals such as the heartless individuals in your program, must serve a sentence that resembles the manner in which they treated their animals.

Thank you so much for airing "Cruel Camera", I believe knowledge is the key to changing attitudes and behavior when it comes to the humane treatment of our fellow creatures. Your program has obviously touched many people, and you've done the animals, and us, a great service. A little knowledge can go a long way!

It sickens me that people who make their living from animals can mistreat them so. If there is such thing as karma, they should prepare themselves! And Steve Martin is essentially blackmailing animal lovers by threatening to breed a new generation of chimps to be exploited unless somebody will pay him not to! Double karma for him!!

I think Attenborough made the right judgment call in the situation involving wild vs zoo polar bears that was questioned in the program, I can totally appreciate his reasoning, and would not feel 'tricked' at all. Lumping him in with those misery-makers is like throwing a fresh loaf of bread into a sack of rotten apples.

Thanks Bob McKeown & team for enlightening us, again.

I watched with a mixture of interest, fascination and utter sadness and dismay your program "Cruel Camera" last night on CBC.

I found it educational, heart-breaking and a real eye-opener, and I'll never view a movie or a commercial with animals in it (however mundane or harmless it may appear), the same way again.

In fact, I watched the program twice and by the end of it I came to believe that our treatment or mistreatment of all animals who inhabit our blue planet will be a blight on our human history in generations to come. We've managed to use every means of exploitation, oppression, conviction, imprisonment, torture, and abuse on just about every other living creature that shares our world with us.

I commend the courage and the intelligence of the CBC to air such an uncomfortable yet necessary program. It was refreshing to see, amongst all the nonesensical and empty-headed programming currently flooding the air , that such a valid and thought provoking program can still be found on a station such as the CBC.

Well done! I hope that such programs about the plight of animals everywhere will provoke people to to be more compassionate and conscious about the choices they make. More importantly, I hope it will jolt people into supporting wildlife sanctuaries and havens set up specifically for the humane convalescence of animals; especially sanctuaries for former lab animals.

I could not believe what I was seeing when I watched this show. What is wrong with people? I cried the entire time, to think of these beautiful animals being locked behind cages not big enough to even walk around, animals being killed, the polar bear scene, animals being taken away from their mothers.

We think that humans are cruel to humans? These animals are helpless - even putting animals in zoo cages locked up forever just for our and our children's enjoyment is terrible to think about. Of course if it is to help an injured animal or ones in danger, I do not see the harm. I hope times will change someday, and we will let these animals live in peace.

Is there anything that little people like myself can do to help? I cannot believe how greedy and horrible people can be.

What is wrong with this world?

I was watching your show on cruel animals and thought that the topic to be interesting and verily well covered. But I was very disappointed to see that CBC is ripe to pick on other broadcasts about animals but did not look at their own. What about CBC's serious with the Kratt brother's, both Zaboomafo and Be the Creature. My children love both of these shows but inadvertently they were missing from CBC's own look at cruelty to animals. Easy to pick on everyone else and not look at ones self.

abuse is abuse. it is sad to see that people who abuse animals in the wild, or in captivity are not punished more severely than they are, the same or similar as if someone abused another human being. why there is a disconnect there, i am not sure. i do however have a small smile when i think of tatiana the tiger licking her paws.

Thank you so much for exposing the truth behind the animals in entertainment.

I was saddened, sickened and felt totally deceived by what I learned.

Humans are truly the most cruel of animals. My heart went out to all the animals. The image of that poor polar bear cub that was intentionally placed on the top of a steep snowy slope then tumbled painfully down onto rocks, simply for the purpose of getting the shot is sickening.

The fact that a horse died during the filming of Flicka but was still able to carry American Humane's seal of approval points out the extent of deception involved. Sadly since even the AH cannot be believed,the only safe film for animals are films with no animals in them.

Humans continue to treat animals as throwaway objects for the purpose of lining their pockets. The faces of those sad, intelligent chimpanzees say it all.

It is despicable behaviour and the fact that it continues to be allowed is a statement about the greedy sickness in our society.

Perhaps your show can continue to expose the cruelty to which humans subject animals. I suggest informing the Canadian public about the 4 horse slaughter plants operating in Canada, the inside workings of a foie gras operation, and especially of the factory farms which put the food on their plates, (including those housing battery caged hens, veal calves, pigs and dairy farms.)Exposing the cruelty in rodeos would also be an eye opening experience for the Canadian public.

Thankfully shows like The Fifth Estate might just bring people out of their blissful ignorance and into the stark awareness of what is really happening to innocent animals at the hands of humans. Thank you.

I just viewed your production of Cruel Camera. I real eye-opener on the abuse of animals in the film industry. Our so called friends south of the border have no right to point fingers north about our so called abuse to animals. ie: the seal hunt. I liked Jane Goodhall's comment that "when you take a baby animal from it's mother it's abuse"

Now Fifth Estate, go back to the past news clips about the seal hunt on the Alantic coast where Paul McCarthy and his now lovely ex wife are lying close to a baby seal. Take a close look at that clip and you will see a person (with a stick) in the background of Paul and wife keeping the mother seal away from her baby --- noboby has every picked up on this classic case of animial abuse by their so called protectors. Hollywood clean up your act first, before you try to be Saviours here in the North.

Just finished viewing the show and I must say I am not surprised by what I saw. For years I have known about the abuse of animals in entertainment and for that reason I have refused going to circuses and zoos. Renee, you are correct in saying that there is no animal more cruel than humans. I also agree with other postings that the fifth should produce a show on the topic of factory farms. I think the Nature of Things did one (Apocalypse Cow) that briefly touched on the topic. This topic would be perfect for the fifth.

CBC & the fifth estate keep up the stellar programming and topics!!

I appreciate you highlighting the cruelty that takes place with animals in the entertainment industry I just wish you wouldn't be so sensationalist the way you tell the story. I feel like whenever I watch the fifth estate I get an extreme view that I have to weigh against the opposite view points in order to get a reality based idea of what is going on.

Fifth estate should realize that there are a lot of people who don't enjoy the "americanized" way they present issues. You went overboard with the interview with David Attenborough, a seemingly very reasonable and integrity-driven person, and made a big issue over some footage with polar bears in a zoo that was not clearly exposed as such.

It is art! It is film. Not everything has to be spelled out for the viewers. An intelligent viewer would realize that certain shots would be almost impossible to obtain in the wild. Thanks for listening.

What I say made me cry.

How we humans could stoop any lower, I do not know. A film where animals are tortured just for our entertainment is not worth making or watching. Our race has destroyed land, polluted the air, brought animals to their death beds. Thanks to us, the world will never rest in peace. Of course, this does not compare to ALL people. Some of us have a good mind, and can see the faults in this.

Until I saw this report, I never knew that this actually happened. Also, how come the Humane Society and other so-called animal-saving orginizations are not stepping in to see how they produce these hideous movies. The government is also not helping. The laws they have made are doing little to stop all this. We've all got to step up to make a difference. It may be hard, but if you see how far Jane Goodall has gone(wonderful woman) then why can't we?

I will never watch a movie with animals in it unless I know that those creatures haven't been hurt. Nothing is worth hurting a living creature for.

Humans have crossed many lines, but today, we've gone too far.

I just watched this documentary last night and was moved to tears by the footage shown. I found the treatment of chimpanzees after they retired from the entertainment industry particularly hard to watch. Chimpanzees are our closest non human relative and have similar emotional, physical, and mental needs as us.

I was shocked that films are not required to have an independent body regulate the treatment of show animals on set. I feel that primates should be completely banned from appearing on film for entertainment purposes due to the fact that they are treated as disposable objects. Thank you for airing this documentary as it has opened my eyes to the cruelty of this industry.

The last shot of that chimp holding the ball and coming close to the camera was like a call out to us to come and get him. It killed me to watch that.

The msg has gotten thrue to me.

Thank u CBC!

Im gonna do my part now and try and save those chimps.

I just finished watching your show and was shocked by it. I couldn't believe that such cruelty was still going on after all these years.

Something has to be done to change the regulations regarding the use of animals in the entertainment industry. Being more strict and hefty fines might be a way to deal with them since they are all in it for the money.

Thank you for making this important, compelling film. Viewers can visit www.primatepatrol.org to learn how to advocate for great apes who are currently being exploited by the entertainment industry.

I did submit a comment, but being new to the computer, I must have not did it right. I would just like to add my voice to the others, on the unspeakable cruelty these innocent animals go through, just for our entertainment. Thank You Fifth Estate, for once again, bringing it to the forefront. If we did not attend or watch such things, it wouldn't happen and until civilized people refuse to tolorate such abuses it will go on and on.

As for the A.H.A. they should hang their heads in shame. I had been lulled into the believe that when I read the disclosure at the end of films that "no animals were harmed in the making of this film" I believed it, how we were lied to and if it was not for the Fifth Estate uncovering the trueth, I would still believe it. Bravo CBC & The Fifth Estate keep up the good work...

The animals would thank you if they could so I am doing it for them.

Thank you for your courage to show this horrible abuse and exploitation of animals in entertainment. As you explained, it's not better today that it was 25 years ago. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.

Merci again Fifth Estate/CBC for this heartbreaking expose.

Thank you to Bob Mckeown and the fifth estate for this tremendous documentary exposing the truth behind the animal entertainment industry. I have often been skeptical of claims of humane oversight in situations like those described. However, I had hoped that at the *very* least, big-budget films and tv shows were no longer allowed to be complicit -- a notion that is plainly proved false here by Bob Mckeown.

The light shone on the truth about baby chimpanzees orphaned, used and abused, and then essentially discarded, is especially important for everyone to know.

As others have said in this discussion, it was immensely difficult to watch, but it is our responsibility as compassionate humans to be aware and to take action via our entertainment choices. Even in non-Canadian productions, we have voices and can make inquiries of the companies and individuals responsible.

As Canadian citizens, we need to take action via our politicians. Frequent news stories about animal abuse cases show Canadians find them unacceptable. We need to take our compassion for abused animals to the next step and speak out, as they cannot. There is an excellent opportunity to do so right now -- at least in Canada -- by speaking to your local MP about the shameful lack of effective anti-cruelty legislation. Judges routinely cannot levy the penalties they believe are due to animal abusers because the existing law is either unenforceable or doesn't provide for them at all. Support Bill C-373 -- NOT Bill S-203 -- which is worse than useless because it masquerades as effective law. This documentary showed abuses in other countries, I believe, but we can be certain that they occur here too. We need to fix our law to address them.

Thank you for the excellent broadcast. It is important that we get such glimpses into the treatment of animals that goes on in the world. Even if it is difficult to watch, viewing such a report will cause us to acknowledge the abuse and neglect of animals and it is then that we are able to stand up, speak and act for those who can't.

Like a previous comment I too was hoping you would show our own Canadian sanctuary, The Fauna Foundation. Gloria Grow and the Fauna Sanctuary do incredible work for all kinds of animals and have a wonderful Chimpanzee house and island where the Chimps can be outdoors if they choose to.

I want to thank the Fifth Estate and CBC for airing this revealing report. When the movie Even Almighty was released last year I was sure there would be an uproar due to the huge amount of animals used in filming. Unfortunately this fact ended up being more of a promotional tool than a detractor.

I hope the Fifth Estate will soon report on the horrendous conditions of modern factory farms. The incredible cruelty farm animals experience is sadly much worse in comparison.

Gandhi said it best: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way it treats its animals."

What an eye opener for many Canadians.

This type of abuse of animals in the name of entertainment, happens unfortunately, all too often.

Those of you who have written in are wondering what you can do to change the legislation - write, email, fax or phone your local, provincial and federal politicians. Let them know you are dissatisfied with the loopholes available in current legislation and you want it changed.
Donate and/or volunteer at your local shelters, they desperately need the assistance.
Stop going to circuses that include animals in their shows.
This is only a small list of what you can do to help.

This program was hard hitting, heartbreaking and informative, thank you for bringing this industry to the forefront of your viewers. It was wonderful that you profiled Carole Noon and Patti Ragan and the wonderful sanctuaries that they have created for the many Chimpanzees that have been used in entertainment and animal research.

I am surprised that our own Chimpanzee sanctuary " The Fauna Foundation" was not profiled in the show. Their Chimpanzees, like Carole's and Patti's had been abused and used in entertainment and medical research, but have now been retired into a beautiful sanctuary on the south shores of Montreal.

For anyone interested in finding out more about this wonderful facility, their website is www.faunafoundation.org

Thank you for this very informative program.

I was horrified and deeply saddened by last night's Fifth Estate. To think that these animals suffer for the sake of human entertainment is absolutely senseless. I cringed at the footage of the chimp's trainer squeezing his mouth to get him to hold a microphone higher. How absolutely inhumane. I refuse to go to zoos because I hate seeing animals in captivity, but to see them suffer for human entertainment is worse. I will never understand how people can be so cruel to innocent animals, who deserve to live freely in the wild. What goes through the minds of these animals when they are being mistreated? How do they make sense of it? I was sickened.

This was difficult to watch. I went directly to Steve Martin's website and wrote an e-mail stating how disgusted and ashamed I was of him and the community of animal trainers whose work is driven by exploitation for the purposes of entertainment. I wrote that I was also disgusted by his statement in his letter of interest to buy his chimpanzees or else. I wished BM challenged him to explain what was meant, it would have been interesting to see how those words would have rolled off Steve's tongue in public. Thank-you for bringing this issue to my attention.

P.S. I'm ashamed to admit that I just started watching your show two years ago, and had no idea how long it been running. AMAZING! Congratulations to everyone who is a part of this very important program! As hard as it is to watch sometimes (e.g. Failing Jeffery), I usually can't wait till the next show!

There is no animal more cruel than humans. For years I didn't enjoy watching animal shows/movies but never knew why; perhaps instinctively I felt the cruelty in them. I am so glad you brought this to the forefront and I hope many people will boycott films made with animals in them. I know I certainly will. It's up to us to eliminate the profits these greedy, sadistic people make while injuring - physically or mentally - these innocent animals.

I commend the producers of "Cruel Camera" for drawing much-needed attention to one of the many ways in which greedy industries inflict suffering on non-human animals in the name of profit. What in my view is most revolting is that the conditions endured by the chimps documented in this film would seem like paradise compared to the lives of the majority of animals that end up on our dinner plates (i.e. pork, chicken, veal.) I have no intention of taking anything away from the seriousness of the issue presented in this documentary; however, if the use of animals in entertainment shocks the CBC's viewers, perhaps a good idea for the next episode of the Fifth Estate would be to take a tour of an industrial hog barn.

Excellent journalism from Bob Mckeown as usual. I was in tears watching as the trainer was snarling and abusing the chimpanzee AND HE KNEW HE WAS ON CAMERA.

Tell us what we can do to stop this abuse. Thank God for angels like Jane Goodall.

I just watched the show and I must admit, I thought the entertainment industry was under much more scrutiny than it obviously is. I have always made a point to watch for disclaimers regarding the safety of animals in film and truly believed that the ASPCA and other animal welfare groups were telling me the truth about the humane treatment of animals in film.

Now I see it is not necessarily so; case in point is the movie Flicka in which a horse died a terrible death and the watchdogs who have annointed themselves as protectors of these animals would not even go to bat to reveal the serious lack in judgment that existed on the set and ultimately allowed the conditions that caused this horse to perish.

Even more haunting is the look on the faces of the poor mistreated and neglected chimpanzees who, once finished entertaining people like you and me, are left to linger and decay in deplorable conditions with no one to love them or care for them. If there was something I could do for these poor pitiful souls, I would do it in a heartbeat. We owe our fellow creatures so much more than we are giving them. My heart breaks to see such things.

I will definitely say I appreciate the coverage of such a neglected issue here in North America. I do see there as being considerable value in covering the subject, but what are we supposed to do about this kind of thing? Why won't our governments address these issues? Not only the entertainment issue, but roadside zoos, training practices, animal cruelty, etc.

This is sensational, this is something that will make tempers flare. Will focussing on transparency in government, wars that won't end, political mudslinging, and a throne speech result in any changes for the better? Doesn't seem like it. Let's look to our politicians for something we can change and NOW, put funding with the people who treat their animals with respect rather than pseudo-economy building grants and funding.

Let's see our animal cruelty legislation be put up to debate, to become popularized as an important political issue. It is. Where is our humanity on this issue?

Thank you for drawing attention to such an important issue. Captive wildlife in North America are not doing well, our licensing systems are flawed, MNR covering only native species, this seems ridiculous. The CAZA is a non-governmental organization and is thus ineffective in imposing a moral standard on zoos etc. How about a real democratically accountable standardizing agency.

Don't say there's not the money because it's out there just not in the right places.

Well I won't ramble.

P.S. What do Walt Disney and Wild Kingdom have in common? Ridiculous cruelty.

Where does someone who happened to include a polar bear in zoo in a biology film fit in? I don't know, our true naturalists deserve respect- Sir David Attenborough

Thank you so much for the program, it was excellent!

Go forth CBC, lets bring about change within our own country, lead by example!