Animal experiments are on the rise

Figures  just released by the Government confirm what we feared: the number of animal experiments increased in Great Britain in 2021.

Following a covid-related decrease in 2020, we’re extremely disappointed that experiments went up by 6% last year. A whopping 3,056,243 procedures were carried out on defenceless animals, including mice, fish, rabbits, cows, sheep, horses, dogs and monkeys, amongst many other species. Of these, 1.73 million experiments were carried out for experimental purposes, whilst 1.33 million experiments were carried out to create and breed genetically altered animals.

Most concerning of all, 86,785 (almost 3%) of experiments were classed as ‘severe’. The Government defines ‘severe’ experiments as procedures that “cause a major departure from the animal’s usual state of health and well-being. It would usually include long-term disease processes where assistance with normal activities such as feeding and drinking are required or where significant deficits in behaviours/activities persist. This would include any state that a person would find difficult to tolerate or disease where clinical signs have progressed to such an extent that it threatens the life of an animal.” In other words, these are experiments that almost certainly cause extreme pain and suffering.

All sentient animals matter

In its annual statistics, the Home Office is eager to point out that 96% of procedures are carried out on mice, fish, birds or rats. It’s almost as if they want us to think these animals don’t matter as much. However, these species are sentient too. Mice inherit personality, learning and physical traits. Rats have the capability to empathise with other rats. And chickens have shown self-awareness and the ability to adopt the perspective of another. We know that you, the animal loving public, will be just as concerned about the horrors inflicted upon these species as any other animal.

Natalie from our Campaigns team said,

“It’s time for the Government to take action. For too long, the Home Office has been satisfied with negligible reductions in animal experiments, whilst the Government continues to claim that animal testing is ‘vital’, despite the huge potential of non-animal methods. The status quo cannot and must not continue. Two thirds of the British public support an animal testing end date. We want kinder, human-relevant science and it’s time the Government caught up with public opinion and set itself an ambitious timetable for ending reliance on outmoded and unethical animal experiments.”

If you agree, take action and tell the Government to call time on animal experiments and sign our petition. (Please note this campaign has now closed.)

Written by Natalie Harney, Campaign Manager