BUAV: Shocking rise in animal experiments in Scotland

Friday, 22 July 2011 10:33 AM

The BUAV has today criticised a 17% increase in the number of animals used in experiments in Scotland during 2010. The total number of animals used was 579,905, which is 85,321 more than in 2009. The figures have come to light following questions tabled by Mr William Bain, MP for Glasgow North East.

Michelle Thew, BUAV Chief Executive: “This large increase in the number of animal experiments taking place in Scotland is shocking. This is an issue of strong public concern and people will be alarmed to know that this is the equivalent to beginning 1,588 experiments every day in a Scottish laboratory and that the majority of experiments were carried out without any anaesthesia. Rather than deliberately subjecting even more animals to pain and suffering, the UK Government should fulfill its pledge to reduce animal experiments.”

During 2010, there were 323,740 mice, 36,890 rats, 1,091 guinea pigs, 755 hamsters, 1,683 rabbits, 27 horses and other equids, 4,706 sheep, 447 pigs, 12,750 birds, 817 amphibians, 193,543 fish, four cats, 442 dogs, 40 new world primates and 370 old world primates used in experiments. Increases occurred in the use of fish (increase of 88,640), rats (increase of 32,114), birds (increase of 6,273) and mice (increase of 3,538).

Other key points from the statistics show:
469,481 procedures (79% of the total) were carried out at universities/medical schools;
225,563 animals (39% of the total) were genetically modified or had a harmful genetic defect;
414,528 procedures (70% of the total) used no form of anaesthesia.

Animal experimentation is an issue of concern for many Scottish politicians. In the run up to the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, the BUAV carried out a survey of all candidates from the main parties. 100% of respondents to our election survey agreed or strongly agreed that more should be done to reduce the number of animals used in experiments, 36% of whom were subsequently elected to the Parliament. A motion tabled in the Parliament last session and supported by 11% of MSPs expressed concern over the high number of animals used in experiments in Scotland and supported a year-on-year reduction strategy (2).

Notes:
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm110720/text/110720w0005.htm#1107211000046
'That the Parliament notes with concern the reported use of 494,584 animals in experiments in Scotland in 2009; is encouraged by what it sees as the significant decrease of over 50,000 animals from 2008 to 2009 but considers this number to still be too high; believes that the views of the Scottish public should be taken into account when the UK Government makes decisions on animal experimentation, and would support a year-on-year reduction strategy to minimise animal suffering in Scotland.'

Fleur Dawes
Media Officer

British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV)
16a Crane Grove
London N7 8NN
Direct: +44 (0) 20 7619 6978
Out-of-hours: +44 (0) 7850 510 955
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7700 0252

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