1. Purpose & scope
This Policy applies to all filming and photography that involves animals, habitats, and ecological settings in connection with the HEADTURNED Foundation. It covers:
- Sanctuary and rehabilitation footage;
- wildlife and habitat media on Foundation-managed land;
- fieldwork or documentary projects with partner organisations; and
- any commissioned or volunteer-led wildlife media created under HEADTURNED-branded assignments.
It applies to staff, contractors, volunteers, and external creators working under a Foundation brief.
2. Welfare and non-interference as first principles
No media output is more important than the wellbeing of animals or the health of habitats. Filming and photography must:
- avoid causing stress, pain, or fear to animals;
- avoid damaging nests, burrows, vegetation, or microhabitats; and
- follow our Wildlife Intervention & Non-Interference Policy, particularly where vulnerable or protected species are involved.
If there is any conflict between getting a shot and protecting welfare or ecological integrity, the shot is not taken.
3. Planning, risk assessment & permissions
Significant wildlife or sanctuary filming is planned in advance, including:
- briefing with sanctuary or conservation staff;
- risk assessment for welfare, habitat disturbance, and human safety;
- checking any legal requirements, licences, or restrictions (for example, protected sites or species);
- obtaining required permissions for access, drone use, and night-time or low-light filming.
Where conditions change on the day—such as extreme weather or unexpected animal behaviour—contributors must be prepared to adapt or halt filming.
4. Working around animals & sensitive habitats
When filming animals in sanctuary or wild settings, contributors must:
- observe agreed minimum distances and quiet zones;
- use long lenses rather than close physical approach wherever possible;
- avoid flash, harsh lighting, or disruptive sound where it could cause stress;
- avoid blocking escape routes or penning animals into confined spaces;
- follow staff guidance on individual animals with specific needs or triggers.
Sensitive habitats (for example, breeding sites, wetlands, restoration zones) may have additional access limits or seasonal restrictions that must be respected.
5. Baiting, luring & staging
The Foundation does not support practices that manipulate wildlife or sanctuary animals simply for media purposes. Specifically:
- baiting, luring, or otherwise inducing animals into unnatural behaviour is not permitted unless there is a clear welfare or management justification agreed by sanctuary or conservation leads; and
- staged scenes that misrepresent conditions, stress levels, or habitat quality must not be created.
Where controlled or staged elements are used for training, veterinary, or rehoming purposes, these must be clearly documented and not misrepresented as spontaneous wild behaviour.
6. Truthfulness, editing & narrative choices
Editing is used to clarify and communicate—not to fabricate. Contributors must not:
- combine shots in ways that create false cause-and-effect relationships (for example, implying one animal's behaviour caused an event it did not);
- remove context that is essential to understanding welfare, habitat condition, or human involvement; or
- add visual or audio effects that meaningfully misrepresent what occurred.
Where illustrative or AI-generated media is used instead of real footage, this must be clearly described in line with our AI, Synthetic Media & Transparency Policy.
7. People, communities & safeguarding
Wildlife and sanctuary stories often intersect with people—staff, volunteers, visitors, neighbours, and community partners. Any filming involving people must:
- obtain informed consent, explained in plain language;
- follow our Safeguarding Policy for children, young people, and adults at risk;
- respect requests not to be filmed or to have footage removed where feasible;
- avoid portraying individuals in ways that are exploitative, degrading, or misleading.
8. Data protection, storage & sharing
Media that includes identifiable people or sensitive locations is handled in line with our Privacy Notice and Data Protection & Information Governance Policy.
Raw footage, selects, and finished edits are stored securely, with access limited to those who need it for legitimate Foundation purposes. Sharing with third parties is governed by written agreements and appropriate licences.
9. Concerns, complaints & review
Anyone who has concerns about wildlife or sanctuary filming—whether a member of staff, a contributor, or a member of the public—can raise these through our usual contact routes or under the Complaints & Feedback Policy.
Where serious concerns arise—for example, suspected welfare breaches or misrepresentation—filming may be paused, content may be withheld from release, and the matter may be escalated under our governance and, if appropriate, whistleblowing procedures.
This Policy is reviewed periodically and updated where necessary to reflect evolving best practice in ethical wildlife media and conservation storytelling.