As many as 27 animals died on a New Zealand farm used to house livestock for the filming of The Hobbit trilogy, according to former animal handlers. The handlers allege the production company was responsible for the fatalities, which occurred ahead of the film’s release in 2012, citing dangerous conditions including precipices, sinkholes and damaged fencing.
Chris Langridge, a horse trainer brought on in November 2010, described the farm near Wellington as riddled with “death traps.” He attempted to fill sinkholes and install barriers to prevent horses from accessing perilous areas, but said it proved an insurmountable challenge. The first horse to die was a miniature pony named Rainbow, which broke its back after galloping off a bank. Langridge said the pony was still alive when he arrived but had to be put down.
Days later, a horse called Doofus was injured after becoming entangled in fencing. Langridge resigned shortly after. Wrangler Johnny Smythe, who took over, reported further deaths: a horse named Claire was found dead with its head submerged in a stream after tumbling over a bluff, and another horse, Zeppelin, died from what veterinary records listed as a burst blood vessel, though Smythe suspected digestive complications from new feed. Smythe also buried six goats and six sheep that died from sinkhole falls, worms, or feed changes, and said a dozen chickens were mauled by dogs.
A spokesman for director Peter Jackson confirmed the deaths of horses, goats, chickens and one sheep, but stressed some were from natural causes. He said the company acted swiftly after the first two horse deaths, investing hundreds of thousands of dollars to upgrade housing and stable facilities in early 2011. “We do know those deaths were avoidable and we took steps to make sure it didn’t happen again,” said Matt Dravitzki.
The American Humane Association, which oversaw animal welfare on set, acknowledged the handlers’ experiences and weaknesses in its supervision system, which monitored filming but not the housing and training facilities. Langridge and his wife Lynn, also a wrangler, resigned in February 2011 and emailed concerns to the unit production manager, but received no further response.
