The National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) has released its latest annual report on animal experimentation in New Zealand. The 2007 report reveals that 246,667 animals were used in experiments, down from 318,489 the previous year. The reduction in numbers, while welcome news, is overshadowed by a huge increase in animals subject to very severe suffering. "A staggering 16,608 animals fell victim to the cruellest forms of animal research, up from 11,409 the year before. Over 15,380 mice were forced to suffer the worst pain recorded alongside 881 guinea pigs, 52 cats and dozens of other animals. Most of these animals were used to test animal health products," says SAFE campaign director Hans Kriek. Fifteen years ago Hans visited a research facility that conducted test on rodents to check the efficacy of vaccines developed for livestock. "I will never forget the sad look on the faces of some of the guinea pigs that had been given lethal drug doses and were slowly dying," says Hans. "I am outraged that nothing seems to have changed since then. Alternative testing methods had been developed even then but despite that animal testing continued." Most animal vaccines are sold on the international market to multinational drug companies. These companies require products to be tested on animals and are slow to recognise alternative testing methods. This means that despite such alternative methods being available, animals continue to suffer. To view vivisection statistics for New Zealand download the NAEAC report
21 July 2008
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