What's happened
The Thai series 'Mae Yua' faces backlash after a scene depicting a cat drinking a spiked beverage led to its apparent death. Viewers and animal rights groups demand investigations into the treatment of the animal, while the show's director apologizes and insists the cat was sedated under expert supervision.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, the show's director, Sant Srikaewlaw, expressed deep regret over the incident, stating, "This incident has taught me to realize my responsibilities and I will be careful not to let it happen again." However, the Veterinary Council of Thailand warned that sedation for non-medical reasons poses risks to animal health, emphasizing that such practices should be strictly regulated. Meanwhile, PETA condemned the actions, calling them "reckless and dangerous," and questioned the necessity of using a live animal when CGI options are available. The South China Morning Post highlighted that the backlash has led to demands for the series to be banned until a thorough investigation is conducted, reflecting a growing concern for animal welfare in the entertainment industry.
How we got here
The controversy arose from a scene in the fifth episode of 'Mae Yua', where a cat named Samli was shown drinking a solution and subsequently convulsing. This sparked outrage among viewers and animal rights advocates, prompting calls for an investigation into the show's practices.
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Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and formerly known as Siam, is a country in Southeast Asia. Located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, it is composed of 76 provinces, and covers an area of 513,120 square kilometres, and a population