Following the recent release of animal testing statistics in the UK, activist group Cardiff Animal Rights (CAR) are raising awareness of the issue.
The statistics, available from The Home Office via Freedom of Information (FOI), reveal that testing in the UK has reached over 4.07 million animals. More so, that only ten universities were responsible for a third of all experiments.
Among these contributors, Cardiff University sits in eighth place, experimenting on 52,500 animals in the past year, although this is Cardiff’s lowest figure since 2012.
Faye Spens, spokesperson for CAR, says that these facts are an “absolute disgrace”.
She explains that the group has been campaigning since 2011. From this point onwards, there have been dips in the number of animals being tested on in Cardiff.
Unfortunately, last year’s numbers rose above the 2011 statistics once more.
Rodents are tested on in the thousands
Taking a stand
Faye has been hard at work organising demonstrations against the practice on a regular basis. She explains that these demonstrations are educational, in order to inform students and the public who are often completely unaware.
“The response is very positive,” she says, “most are as outraged and disgusted as we are”.
Faye believes it is crucial to allow students to opt out of using animals for tests on their university course. By continually putting together informative demonstrations, she hopes that the number of animals tested on in Cardiff continue to decrease.
In response to these claims, a university spokesperson said that research involving animals is aimed at advancing alleviation of human and veterinary diseases.
“The study of animals remains essential,” they claimed.
Cardiff University is publicly committed to the principle of the ‘3Rs’, a set of guidelines for ethical use of animals in tests. Wherever possible, the use of animals in testing is avoided according to these guidelines outlined by the government.
CAR argue that recent figures contradict such statements however.
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