Post by KNOWTHIS on May 11, 2006 3:43:00 GMT -5
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=698932006
BRITAIN's military use of animal testing has almost doubled in five years, official figures have revealed.
The Ministry of Defence statistics show that the defence laboratory at Porton Down is now using more than 21,000 animals a year for testing.
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The bulk of the animals used for vivisection at the Wiltshire site are mice, but tests have also been conducted on monkeys, pigs, cows and sheep.
While most of the animals are believed to be used in the development of vaccines and other protective technologies, campaigners say some have been used in the creation and testing of weapons systems.
The military's increasing use of animals comes as civilian use of animal testing in cosmetic and medical research is falling, largely driven by public opinion and ever more vocal animal rights activists.
Some estimates suggest that commercial animal testing has halved in the last three decades.
Detailed figures released by the MoD yesterday showed that in 2000, Porton Down used 11,985 animals in its tests. By last year, that figure had risen to 21,118.
Mice make up the vast majority of the animals used at Porton Down. Last year, the research station used 20,016 mice in experiments, up from 10,856 in 2000. But larger animals are also routinely used. Last year, 54 "non-human primates" were subjected to experiments, an increase from 2000, when 34 monkeys were used. The MoD has previously identified the primates it uses as rhesus macaques and common marmosets.
The precise details of the tests were not disclosed. The MoD said only that the animals are used in research including "novel haemorrhage control", "burn protection", the treatment of acute lung injuries and the development of "medical counter-measures".
Mike Hancock, the Liberal Democrat MP whose parliamentary questions exposed the testing figures last night, said he was "horrified" and pledged to table more questions seeking precise details of the tests and asking if any research was being undertaken for foreign governments.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), a campaign group, also condemned the military use of animal testing. "Animals don't wage wars; why should they be made to suffer because humans do?" asked a PETA spokeswoman. "Most people would be horrified to know that their tax money is being used to fund these wasteful and cruel experiments."
But Adam Ingram, a defence minister, insisted that the tests are carried out only when there is no alternative.
"Porton Down only undertakes research involving the use of animals when other 'in vitro', physical and computer modelling methods are unsuitable," Mr Ingram said as he published the new figures in parliament. He added that all military testing follows the widespread scientific principles of trying to refine, reduce and replace animal tests wherever possible.
In 1994, some Labour Party spokesmen suggested the party in government would forbid the use of animals in the testing and development of weapons.
But since Labour came to office in 1997, such testing has increased. Porton Down has experimented on more than 100,000 animals since 1997.
BRITAIN's military use of animal testing has almost doubled in five years, official figures have revealed.
The Ministry of Defence statistics show that the defence laboratory at Porton Down is now using more than 21,000 animals a year for testing.
Advert for scotsman.com Rosslyn vodcast
The bulk of the animals used for vivisection at the Wiltshire site are mice, but tests have also been conducted on monkeys, pigs, cows and sheep.
While most of the animals are believed to be used in the development of vaccines and other protective technologies, campaigners say some have been used in the creation and testing of weapons systems.
The military's increasing use of animals comes as civilian use of animal testing in cosmetic and medical research is falling, largely driven by public opinion and ever more vocal animal rights activists.
Some estimates suggest that commercial animal testing has halved in the last three decades.
Detailed figures released by the MoD yesterday showed that in 2000, Porton Down used 11,985 animals in its tests. By last year, that figure had risen to 21,118.
Mice make up the vast majority of the animals used at Porton Down. Last year, the research station used 20,016 mice in experiments, up from 10,856 in 2000. But larger animals are also routinely used. Last year, 54 "non-human primates" were subjected to experiments, an increase from 2000, when 34 monkeys were used. The MoD has previously identified the primates it uses as rhesus macaques and common marmosets.
The precise details of the tests were not disclosed. The MoD said only that the animals are used in research including "novel haemorrhage control", "burn protection", the treatment of acute lung injuries and the development of "medical counter-measures".
Mike Hancock, the Liberal Democrat MP whose parliamentary questions exposed the testing figures last night, said he was "horrified" and pledged to table more questions seeking precise details of the tests and asking if any research was being undertaken for foreign governments.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), a campaign group, also condemned the military use of animal testing. "Animals don't wage wars; why should they be made to suffer because humans do?" asked a PETA spokeswoman. "Most people would be horrified to know that their tax money is being used to fund these wasteful and cruel experiments."
But Adam Ingram, a defence minister, insisted that the tests are carried out only when there is no alternative.
"Porton Down only undertakes research involving the use of animals when other 'in vitro', physical and computer modelling methods are unsuitable," Mr Ingram said as he published the new figures in parliament. He added that all military testing follows the widespread scientific principles of trying to refine, reduce and replace animal tests wherever possible.
In 1994, some Labour Party spokesmen suggested the party in government would forbid the use of animals in the testing and development of weapons.
But since Labour came to office in 1997, such testing has increased. Porton Down has experimented on more than 100,000 animals since 1997.