New Pirates Of The Caribbean film sparks animal cruelty row

The fifth installment of the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise has sparked an animal cruelty row over plans to use real monkeys in filming.

Producers who are currently shooting the blockbuster in Australia reportedly plan to import a pair of white-throated capuchins to appear in the movie, but animal rights campaigners are urging them to use computer-generated imagery (CGI) instead.

Nearly 50,000 protesters have signed a petition demanding Walt Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Films ditch plans to use live animals.

Rachel Hevesi, director of Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary, tells Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper, "CGI technology is now so good there really is no need to exploit animals."

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, which stars Johnny Depp, is due for release in 2017.