Bigg Boss 18: PETA Urges Salman Khan To 'Stop Using Animals As Props' After Donkey Appears On The Show

Bigg Boss 18: The makers brought in a donkey named Gadhraj, making waves about this unique addition to the show.

PETA has urged Salman Khan to persuade the producers of the controversial reality show not to use animals on the show.

Source : Twitter/@baskahaaniyan

Bigg Boss 18: The grand premiere of Bigg Boss 18 this Sunday introduced 18 new contestants, but the real buzz was about the '19th contestant.' This season, Bigg Boss brought in a donkey named Gadhraj, making waves about this unique addition to the show.

The audience's reactions have been mixed, and now the animal welfare organization PETA has voiced its concerns as well. They have urged Salman Khan to persuade the producers of the controversial reality show not to use animals on the show.

"if bigg boss says Vivian is his laadla, even i've worked w colors even if it's not as much as Vivian but then ideally I should also be his laadli right" cutie trynna woo that donkey to her team crying her dukhda to it 😭😂#EishaSingh #BB18 pic.twitter.com/nX9klSrhGd

— •ھ• 🍉 (@baskahaaniyan) October 8, 2024

PETA pens a letter to Salman Khan

In a letter addressed to Salman Khan, PETA India titled “Urgent Request to Keep Animals Out of Bigg Boss” expressed concerns about the “keeping of a donkey in the Bigg Boss house” and mentioned that they have received several complaints regarding the matter.

“We are being inundated with complaints by members of the public who are deeply distressed over the keeping of a donkey in the Bigg Boss house. Their concerns are valid and must not be ignored.” “As one of India’s most influential stars and the host of Bigg Boss, you have the power to set a compassionate example. We respectfully ask that you use this influence to urge the show’s producers to avoid using animals as props for entertainment,” the letter read.

“We also urge you to encourage Advocate Gunaratna Sadavarte, who has reportedly brought Max into the house, to surrender the donkey to PETA India to rehome in a sanctuary with other rescued donkeys. Such a move would surely win Advocate Sadavarte fans,” it added.

The letter strongly emphasised that featuring an animal on the show is not a “laughing matter.”

“As prey animals, donkeys are naturally nervous. They, and other animals, would find the lights, sounds and clamor that is standard on all show sets confusing and frightening. That a show set is no place for an animal is obvious to viewers who are saddened to see the donkey kept in a small, confined space standing in waste,” it mentioned.

The statement concluded with, “Please take the steps suggested in this letter to show that Bigg Boss recognizes animals deserve our compassion and respect.”

Bigg Boss 18, hosted by Salman Khan, premiered on Colors TV and JioCinema on October 6.