BMF and 303Lowe among agencies to agree to not use apes in adverts

A number of Australian ad agencies have taken a pledge to stop using apes in their advertising following a campaign from animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific and BMF and 303Lowe have taken the pledge after a PETA initiative that started in October last year, long with smaller agencies including Marketing Mechanics, Studio 55, Blink Studio, NrG Advertising, Synergy Creative, Scott Advertising & Marketing and Toby Creative.

Agencies that have already promised not to use apes in ads include BBDO, DDB, TBWA, McCann Erickson, JWT, Y&R, Ogilvy & Mather and Saatchi & Saatchi.

Jason Baker, PETA’s director of campaigns, said: “Like human babies, young great apes need to be with their mothers, not taken away from them and left scared and alone in steel cages on a hot, noisy production set. By pledging not to use great apes, these agencies are helping stop animal abuse in advertising.”