WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CONTENT WHICH MAY UPSET THE READER
Tuesday 24 April is ‘World Day for Animals in Laboratories’, to raise awareness of animals being used across the planet in experiments and tests. So, their human supporters have been speaking out on social media.
Shocking figures
The campaign group Cruelty Free International estimates that around 115 million animals are used by humans for experiments every year. Cruelty Free International says government figures [pdf, p35] show that in the UK in 2016:
- 3.9 million experiments were performed on animals.
- 1.9 million (49%) were to do with the “creation or breeding of genetically altered animals who were not used in further experiments”.
- The other 2 million were “other” experiments.
- 700,000 experiments were considered to cause “moderate or severe suffering” on the animals.
- Only 13% of experiments were “required by regulators”.
In 2016, of the 2 million “other” experiments, there were:
- 1.2 million on mice.
- 286,600 on fish.
- 238,841 on rats.
- 47,904 on sheep.
- 26,186 on guinea pigs.
- 15,431 on rabbits.
- 14,997 on birds.
- 8,948 on horses.
- 5,358 on pigs.
- 4,932 on dogs.
- 3,569 on monkeys.
- 190 on cats.
This is despite the UK government claiming that:
Our regulations ensure that animals are used in scientific procedures only when there’s no validated alternative and when the potential benefits outweigh the harms.
Tweeting for animals
So, people from the UK and around the world have been voicing their opposition to animal experiments:
Today is #WorldDayForAnimalsInLaboratories
Please spare a thought for the millions of animals that are cruelly tested , tortured and killed in laboratories.
At least 115 million animals are used in experiments worldwide each year, including more than 4 million in the UK.#WDAIL pic.twitter.com/AgDbZVtdVX— Labour Animal Rights Group (@LabourAnimalRG) April 24, 2018
In the UK in 2016 almost 700,000 animals were subjected to experiments that even the researchers considered had caused them moderate or severe suffering. #WorldDayforAnimalsinLaboratories #WDAIL pic.twitter.com/gzvJM3NIt7
— Cruelty Free International (@CrueltyFreeIntl) April 24, 2018
The group Naturewatch pointed out something many of us may not know:
TODAY IS #WorldDayForAnimalsInLaboratories
SC Johnson own many animal tested brands, but a clean start could arise from this dirty mess. Send a message to Ecover and Method. Urge them to use their power to make SC Johnson cruelty-free.
TAKE ACTION…https://t.co/namW7RdZpE pic.twitter.com/Ukx9cD9Hvh— Naturewatch Foundation (@Naturewatch_org) April 24, 2018
Meanwhile, Animal Free Research UK put some context into the numbers:
Today, 10,000+ animals will be used in research in the UK. Help us fund research to replace them:https://t.co/zggzHOq5t7#WDAIL #WorldDayForAnimalsInLaboratories #animalfreeresearch pic.twitter.com/JsxlS1KiMq
— AnimalFreeResearchUK (@AFR_UK) April 24, 2018
And the RSPCA did a live question and answer session on Facebook to mark the day:
Tomorrow is World Day for Animals in Laboratories 🐁 Join our Research Animal Department team on Facebook https://t.co/t66MDCrz5f for a live Q&A on this issue from 12.30 to 1.30pm, and get all your questions answered #WDAIL pic.twitter.com/yMKkqwsOKb
— RSPCA (England & Wales) (@RSPCA_official) April 23, 2018
The reality
The reality behind the tweets is disturbing. The video below, from a laboratory in France, contains graphic content some readers may find upsetting:
The outspoken campaign group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) says:
Animals feel pain and fear, just as we do, and their overwhelming natural instincts – like ours – are to be free and to protect their own lives, not to be locked in a small cage inside a laboratory.
It’s urging people to sign a petition asking governments to ban animal testing. It’s also asking people to put their name to a letter calling on the EU to have a moratorium on animal testing and review its policies.
The use of animals in experiments is an archaic and brutal practice unfitting of the century we live in. But when a society allows homeless people to die on the streets, it’s little wonder our respect for animals is so low.
Get Involved!
– Support Cruelty Free International and take action with PETA.
Featured image via VICE News – YouTube
