I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! has been accused of breaching wildlife laws.
Police are being urged to investigate after a report by the Buglife charity claimed that Turkish crayfish, a non-native invasive species, featured in episode five of the show when it was filmed at Gwyrch Castle in north Wales last year.
The species was brought into the country without a licence, The Guardian reports that an investigation by the UK wildlife charity found.
It comes after police launched an investigation into I'm A Celeb over concerns non-native species were escaping into the Welsh countryside from the set last year.
Keeping this species of crayfish, even in captivity, is outlawed by the Prohibition of Keeping of Live Fish (Crayfish) Order 1996, subject to license.
Matt Shardlow, CEO of Buglife, told the publication: "Entertainment isn't one of the reasons why people should be having these dangerously invasive species at all – they just shouldn't be using invasive species for sort of frivolous purposes."
He added: "I don't know whether there was any risks of these particular ones escaping but that's certainly something the police needs to look at."
The Welsh government said it was "unable to find any evidence that a licence application was made in this instance".
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it also received no licence application and one would not have been issued for this purpose.
A spokesperson for north Wales police said: "If someone wishes to provide us with any further information and evidence, we will consider if a subsequent investigation is required."
ITV told the Mirror: "ITV did not release any Crayfish into the wild. We have systems in place within the controlled environment they were used in that ensured they were counted before, during and after use. When Crayfish were used on I'm A Celebrity they were sourced and hired through a specialist supplier and all returned after use."
I'm A Celebrity was filmed in Wales last year due to travel restrictions put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In November 2020 police investigated the show after Williams complained about the thousands of cockroaches poured over contestants.
He voiced concerns that the cockroaches, which are not native to Wales, would escape into the wild.
An ITV spokesperson said at the time: "All of the insects used on I'm A Celebrity are non-invasive species.
"They are only ever released in a contained area and collected immediately after filming.
"The bugs are UK-bred and are commercially purchased in the UK for birds and exotic animal feed for pets and zoo keepers in normal circumstances.
"Our insects have been donated to local wildlife sanctuaries, trusts and zoos for their exotic animal and bird feed after filming."
