Public Opinion Test For Animal Research
Britain’s Yorkshire Post examines the controversial area of animal testing and presents the recent history of events and public perception pertaining to the topic. The article includes some basics about animal research in the U.K., including the fact that 2006 was the first time that the number of animals used in testing was more than 3 million.
A brief historical context of animal experimentation beginning in 1824 is given, leading to a summary of recent events concerning this issue in the United Kingdom.
Basic facts about U.K. animal research are included in the article:
- In 2006, the number of animal used in testing surpassed 3 million for the first time.
- Rats, mice, and other rodents account for 83% of research animals while fish, amphibians, and reptiles account for 14%, and rabbits, ferrets, sheep, cows, pigs, dogs, cats, and monkeys account for an additional 3%.
- Chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas have not been used for testing in the U.K. in the last 20 years and their use is now banned.
- Slightly less than one third of all animal testing is related to genetics, a similar number is related to treatment or prevention of disease, and 31% is related to organ functions. The remaining 6% of research relates to product testing.