Content creators faced increased scrutiny and backlash for featuring "exotic" pets or visiting roadside zoos that allowed cub petting.

In 2021, the use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and animatronics to replace live animals became industry standard for major blockbusters, driven by both safety concerns (exacerbated by pandemic filming protocols) and ethical pressure. Key examples include:

original about a group of "dangerous" Australian animals that escape a zoo to find their home in the wild. Clifford the Big Red Dog