Mainichi is reporting that several rare turtles were abused and/or killed during the filming of a new Gamera movie.  Apparently the film crew drilled holes in the shells of the turtles so that fake wings could be attached.  They are denying that any turtles were actually hurt or killed, but some sources claim otherwise.  Anyway, here’s the article:

Allegations of abuse see turtle monster raising its ugly head

Gamera, a turtle-like movie monster and sometime adversary or ally of Godzilla, may be behind an unexpected hit in theaters at the moment, but its makers are now copping a hit amid claims of violent abuse of turtles used in the making of the movie, according to Shukan Asahi (5/26).

“Chiisaki Yujatachi Gamera,” the story of a boy who raises a baby turtle until it grows up and becomes the gigantic Gamera turtle monster that saves the world by battling invading space monsters, is winning hearts and putting butts on seats.

But some claim that the making of the movie resulted in deaths or abuse of extremely rare African spurred turtles, which need to be raised in extremely cloistered environments.

The movie’s website boasts of how 13 actual turtles of various sizes were used in the making of the film and how they were treated kindly.

“There was this beautiful woman on the production staff whose only job was to ensure the health of the turtles,” Shukan Asahi quotes the website saying. “They were given better star treatment than the stars themselves.”

Movie credits also mention that none of the animals used in the filming were hurt, but turtles’ rights campaigner Nao Saito argues otherwise.

“I don’t know whether it was because they were mishandled, but a large number of the smaller turtles used ended up receiving treatment at veterinary hospitals even while filming was still going on. Several holes had been opened in their shells so they could be used for the movie’s flying turtle scenes,” Saito, head of the Think About Land Turtles Association, tells Shukan Asahi. “The turtle keeper had detailed statements on her personal blog about how the turtles had died, but now those statements have disappeared, for some reason.”

Following the filming, many of the turtles used were sent to Izu Andyland, a turtle theme park on the Izu Peninsula just west of Tokyo.

“It’s true that tiny holes were opened in some of the shells for filming, but suggestions that this weakened the turtles and caused their deaths are absolutely preposterous,” the turtles’ handler tells Shukan Asahi.

Kadokawa Herald Pictures Inc., which made the Gamera movie, bitterly denies the claims of abuse.

“Not a single death occurred,” a representative of the filmmaker says to Shukan Asahi before refuting the claims allegedly made in the handler’s blog. “All those involved in the movie are in agreement that the comments made on the blog were all lies.” (By Ryann Connell)

May 24, 2006

Related Links:

Gamera Movie Official Site(Japanese)