Tiger mistreated during 'Life of Pi' shooting

Los Angeles, Nov. 26: Animals may have been harmed during the filming of 'Life of Pi', according to a news report.

The American Humane Association (AHA) is charged with protecting animals during movie shoots, but a staggering new report out claims it puts more effort into covering up animal harm than preventing it.

Some of the biggest-name productions in Hollywood have seen animals die on-set or suffer near-death experiences, but still received the ubiquitous AHA stamp of approval, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Some of the more egregious incidents include dozens of marine animals washing ashore during the filming of a 'Pirates of the Caribbean' film, the deaths of 27 animals during the filming of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey', and four horses dying during filming for HBO’s 'Luck'.

Not even the tiger star of 'Life of Pi', who almost drowned, was safe from being covered up. The tiger, known in the film as Richard Parker, was tasked with swimming to the side during a scene and became disoriented. A trainer had to lasso him with a rope and pull him to safety.

In an email obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, AHA monitor Gina Johnson allegedly wrote to a colleague, "I think this goes without saying but DON’T MENTION IT TO ANYONE, ESPECIALLY THE OFFICE! I have downplayed the f*** out of it."

The award-winning box office smash still received the "No Animals Were Harmed" credit familiar to all moviegoers.

Several dozen marine animals, including fish and squid, washed as-hore during the filming of 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'.

They died after uncontrolled explosions were set off in the water for special effects, a rep from the AHA present during filming told The Hollywood Reporter.

The AHA has declined to comment on the allegation.