Here’s a roundup of this week’s biggest news stories related to animal research—all the recent media coverage you need to know right now to be the most effective activist for animals in labs.
NEW: More Animals Reported by Labs in 2023 Than in 2022
Rise for Animals, 8/14/2024
The USDA has finally released U.S. animal research facilities’ 2023 Annual Reports, and Rise for Animals has compiled all the data for you.
1,048 animal research facilities reported exploiting 1,609,186 animals in 2023. But — because the USDA requires laboratories to report their use of certain warm-blooded animals only — the USDA’s reports are estimated to account for only about 1% of the animals exploited by and in laboratories. 📰 Full Story →
The Fierce Battle To Stop a Massive Monkey-Breeding Facility in Georgia
Jordi Casmitjana, 8/8/2024
“A group of outraged Georgia residents have united to fight a plan to put what would be America’s largest laboratory monkey breeding facility in the small town of Bainbridge, Georgia, which is 233 miles south of Atlanta and just 40 miles north of Tallahassee, Florida.”
“The residents . . . argue that local officials approved the proposal during an illegally assembled meeting . . . Their overarching complaint is that this highly controversial plan was engineered behind the backs of the very citizens who would be impacted, with nobody asking homeowners if they wanted to become neighbors with 30,000 imprisoned monkeys, knowing full well the likely answer would be: hell no.” 📰 Full Story →
NSW Govt Funds Body to Reduce Animals in Medical Research
Lab+Life Scientist, 8/9/2024
“The NSW Government has announced a $4.5 million funding package to establish the Non-Animal Technologies Network (NAT-Net), which aims to help reduce and replace animals in medical research.”
“. . . the government posits that non-animal technologies – such as stem cell-derived organoids, computer simulations, organs-on-a-chip models and synthetic biology applications – are more biologically similar to the patients being treated, and so medications being tested are less likely to fail in clinical trials.”
“‘This is the first time a network of this kind has been established for non-animal technologies in NSW, and it will significantly enhance the state’s ability to make scientific breakthroughs,’….” 📰 Full Story →
Beagles Saved from Animal Testing to Find Homes in Canada
Michelle Gerwing, 8/9/2024
“Ten beagles rescued from animal testing will be getting news leases on life in Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario. The dogs started their trip home Friday from the United States. Their origin cannot be made public to protest the network that worked to rescue these dogs.”
“According to The Beagle Alliance, the charity that rescued the pooches, these pups were bred into animal testing and were destined to be put down.” 📰 Full Story →
Virginia Legislators Studying Transparency at Publicly Funded Animal Testing Facilities
Katie King, 8/10/2024
“A legislative task force has convened to study transparency deficiencies at publicly funded facilities that conduct animal experiments . . . The group includes representatives for universities, animal rights groups and open government advocacy organizations.”
“Solutions were not explored during the first meeting July 26 in Richmond, but members identified their goals and concerns with the help of professional mediators. ‘I would like the access to understand exactly which animals are there,’ [Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax] said at the meeting. ‘How many die and what the circumstances are of their death – for transparency’s sake, I think it’s reasonable to request that.’”
“Ralph Malbrue, an attending veterinarian and director for the Center for Comparative Medicine at the University of Virginia, questioned how knowing the numbers would help improve animal welfare. He added that researchers were often busy working on publications.” 📰 Full Story →
Horses Can Plan Ahead and Think Strategically, Scientists Find
Donna Ferguson, 8/11/2024
“Horses have the ability to think and plan ahead and are far more intelligent than scientists previously thought . . . ‘our study shows that they do have awareness of the consequences and outcomes of their actions,’….”
“Evans hopes the groundbreaking study, which will be published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, will help to improve welfare for horses.” 📰 Full Story →
NC State Researcher Found Non-Compliant With Animal Welfare Standards
Kate Denning, Ethan Bakogiannia, Matthew Burkhart, 8/7/2024
“A NC State researcher was suspended and is no longer employed by the University following a confirmed report of animal rights noncompliance.”
“The violations included denying animals post-surgery pain relief and the death of a rodent . . . the morning after surgery had occurred.” 📰 Full Story →
People Are Protesting a Wayne County Beagle Breeder. They Want to End Animal Testing
Gino Fanelli, 8/14/2024
“The protest was part of a tour of laboratories and breeding facilities by the advocacy group Dog Research Exposed. It sought to bring attention to Marshall [“one of the largest breeding facilities in the country for canines used in animal research”]….”
“The protest brought animal rights activists from across the country together with the goal of pushing Marshall to be shut down, the first protest of its kind at the facility.” 📰 Full Story →
Species Spotlight: Poison Dart Frogs
Rise for Animals, 8/7/2024
Recently, the BBC’s Science Focus reported that Poison Dart Frogs display empathy. We were left wanting to know more about these amazing amphibians, so we got to work!
Did you know that they play crucial ecological roles in their natural environments? Or that they are “very attentive parents”? Learn more fascinating facts: 📰 Full Story →