British broadcaster ITV has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and was fined by an Australian court after a rat was killed and eaten on the reality TV show. The conviction reinforces the wide legislative recognition of rats as a protected animal defined under anti-cruelty/animal welfare legislation.

The court was told that the rat took a minute-and-a-half to die after being stabbed with a knife which the magistrate said caused unnecessary pain to the animal.

Read more at http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/itv-fined-over-killing-rat-tv-show-3351600