sad things

Twenty-seven Animals Died on Hobbit Set [Updated]

Oh no: New Zealand animal wranglers are blaming The Hobbit’s production company for the deaths of “up to 27 animals” (mostly horses, sheep, and goats) who were used in the film.  The animals were apparently kept on a farm filled with broken fences and “death traps” — including bluffs and sinkholes — into which the horses fell. There is also this very sad sentence: “The first horse to die, he said, was a miniature named Rainbow.” Peter Jackson’s camp has acknowledged the deaths, but claims that some came from natural causes. PETA is already organizing protests. Update: Jackson released a statement “completely rejecting” the accusations.  “We are currently investigating these new allegations and are attempting to speak with all parties involved to establish the truth.”

Twenty-seven Animals Died on Hobbit Set