Channel 7’s Sunrise is facing criticism from viewers after a 200kg tortoise was transported in the back of a van for more than an hour and then appeared to be awkwardly manoeuvred onto the set for a live segment.
Hugo, a 76-year-old Galapagos tortoise, arrived at the program’s backlot on Tuesday morning after making the trip from the Australian Reptile Park on the NSW Central Coast, where he lives.
The journey to Sunrise’s Sydney studios covered more than 85km, and footage from the scene showed producers unloading Hugo from the vehicle before pulling him onto a wheeled dolly to move him inside.
Video of the process drew backlash online, with some viewers accusing the program of mistreating the animal. In the footage, producers could be seen tugging at Hugo’s shell while his legs hung above the ground during the difficult unloading.
Even Sunrise hosts Matt Shirvington and Monique Wright appeared taken aback as producers and Australian Reptile Park staff worked together to get the giant tortoise out of the van.
“Free the tortoise! Hugo doesn’t know what is going on here,” Shirvington said during the segment.
Monique replied: ‘Poor Hugo!’
His role on the show was to predict the winner of Wednesday night’s State of Origin clash by choosing between two presenters, who each attempted to lure him with carrots.
Hugo was hauled out of a transport van in Sunrise’s backlot on Tuesday morning as producers struggled to unload him onto a moving dolly, pulling at his shell as his legs flailed to the ground
Sunrise’s hosts Matt Shirvington and Monique Wright were shocked as cameras kept rolling
Hugo was wrangled out of the van and lifted onto a moving dolly to be wheeled into the studio
The Australian Reptile Park has long used Hugo as a promotional tool on social media, with the tortoise previously making headlines for predicting the 2022 federal election result by choosing between plates of food representing rival candidates.
During the segment, Hugo gravitated to Wright, who was wearing Maroons colours, over Shirvington in Blue.
While Hugo was chomping on carrot sticks, his handler, Brandon, said that despite being like a ‘solid rock’, he can feel everything through his shell.
‘He can feel all the way through here,’ Brandon said, pointing towards the bottom of his shell.
‘He’s got tactile receptors on every single plate. He loves rubs on the back. I’ve worked with tortoises where if you scratch them right between the ‘scoots’ they actually start shaking their bottom.’
One Sunrise viewer told the Daily Mail they were horrified while watching the segment after seeing producers drag Hugo by his shell.
‘I found it really cruel,’ they said. ‘Dragging a poor innocent tortoise onto set just to entertain people. It’s disgusting.’
Another viewer said: ‘They could have easily done a live cross from his enclosure. It was unnecessary to bring him into the studio.’
Bondi Vet owner Dr Kate Adams said zoos must strike the right balance between animal welfare and self promotion
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NSW Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst said she was disgusted that the animal was being used for a laugh.
‘Animals are not entertainment. It comes as no surprise that there have been complaints about this segment, as society does not consider it amusing to use animals as props or for a laugh,’ Hurst said.
‘Animals are sentient beings with the ability to feel pain and fear and should be respected. The Australian Reptile Park should have known better and ensured proper safeguards were in place.’
Bondi Vet owner Dr Kate Adams didn’t watch the segment live, but said zoos must strike the right balance between animal welfare and self-promotion.
‘Zoos always need to consider the animal’s welfare first,’ Dr Adams told the Daily Mail.
‘There needs to be people who always consider what is best for the animal – not just the marketing department or the media.
‘If the audience felt uncomfortable watching, then the purpose of the segment has been lost anyway and has negatively impacted the reputation of the organisation – the exact opposite of what was trying to be achieved.
‘That happens when the desire to get a story and promote the organisation takes precedence over what was best for Hugo.’
Dr Adams also questioned why the segment wasn’t filmed in a location more suitable for Hugo.
‘Why wasn’t consideration given to how many people were needed to transport him?’ she asked.
‘Or whether transport was required at all, and the film crew could have come to him? Hugo’s welfare should have been the first consideration, not an afterthought.’
The Daily Mail has contacted Channel Seven and the Australian Reptile Park for comment.
