‘The Hobbit’ Responsible for 27 Animal Deaths

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Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy movies were so popular and successful that he decided it was time to create “The Hobbit.” Well, even though it might be another box office hit, some of the animals used for the film might disagree, as up to 27 are now dead, reports reveal.

Animal wranglers hired to care for the animals are now revealing that horses, goats, chickens and one sheep had to live in horrific conditions that contributed to their deaths. While not on set, they lived on a farm filled with all sorts of “death traps” like sinkholes and broken fences.

The animals weren’t harmed during actual filming, the American Humane Association explains, which monitored their treatment throughout the process. Unfortunately, the monitoring only occurred during filming and not at the living facilities.

About 150 animals were living at the farm, with some dying from natural causes, Matt Dravitzki, a film spokesman, said. He noted the production company quickly made changes to improve conditions, and also admitted the deaths of the horses could have been avoided.

To hear stories from the four wranglers, visit Entertainment Weekly, where they discuss how the deaths could have been prevented and the inexplicable living arrangements the animals had to endure.

“The Hobbit” will be released on Nov. 28 in Wellington, New Zealand and will open in December here in the United States. PETA is said to be protesting at the New Zealand, the U.S. and the U.K. premieres.

Will you still see “The Hobbit”?