UBC used 216,450 animals in experiments in 2013

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      UBC has released its latest statistics on animal research at the university.

      In 2013, 216,450 animals were used in "research and teaching protocols", down from 227,362 in 2012.

      These animals included rodents (126,290 or 58.35 percent), fish (61,792 or 28.55 percent), reptiles and amphibians (23,691 or 10.95 percent), birds (1,358 or 0.63 percent), small mammals (1,181 or 0.55 percent), large mammals (1,778 or 0.82 percent), and marine mammals (360 or 0.17 percent). (That's 3,319 mammals, or 1.53 percent, in total.)

      Research by animal type.
      Courtesy UBC

      On its animal research website, UBC also breaks down the numbers by categories of invasiveness, as defined by the Canadian Council on Animal Care.

      • Category A (most invertebrates or on live isolates): 0 (0)
      • Category B (little or no discomfort or stress): 92,913 (42.93 percent)
      • Category C (minor stress or pain of short duration): 46,978 (21.70 percent)
      • Category D (moderate to severe distress or discomfort): 76,496 (35.34 percent)
      • Category E (severe pain near, at, or above the pain tolerance threshold of unanesthetized conscious animals): 63 (0.03 percent)
      Research by category of invasiveness.
      Courtesy UBC

      UBC states:

      The Canadian Council on Animal Care divides animal research into five Categories of Invasiveness (A to E). Category A includes most experiments involving tissue cultures, eggs and single-cell organisms and does not require annual reporting.

      Across three of the four categories the number of animals experiencing invasive research procedures in 2013 was down by more than 12,000 compared to 2012.

      More than two-thirds of animals involved in research at UBC in 2013 fall under Category B and C. The invasiveness ranges from little discomfort and stress to minor stress and pain. For a wide range of animals this could include observation in the wild, brief periods of restraint for tagging, taking blood samples and minor surgical biopsies under anesthesia.

      In Category D studies, rated for moderate to severe distress or discomfort, there was a 2.55 per cent increase over 2012.

      Animals were used for basic research (125,318 or 57.90 percent), medical and veterinary research (50,472 or 23.32 percent), breeding (36,728 or 16.97 percent), educational purposes (2,619 or 1.21 percent), and regulatory testing (1,313 or 0.61 percent).

      Research by purpose of use.
      Courtesy UBC

      Comments

      10 Comments

      Disturbing

      Dec 19, 2014 at 2:59pm

      Why would they cause severe distress to these animals if they have the option of anesthetizing them?

      Kimberly

      Dec 20, 2014 at 2:45pm

      We obviously have a long way to go in the protection and humane treatment of animals

      UBC Animal abuse

      Dec 20, 2014 at 2:57pm

      So, 63 account of inflicting severe pain "ear, at, or above the pain tolerance threshold of unanesthetized conscious animals."

      Amelia

      Dec 20, 2014 at 10:26pm

      Sickening. Scientific fraud and animal cruelty at UBC.

      Ariane

      Dec 21, 2014 at 6:27pm

      Disgusting. UBC should be ashamed of their use of any animals in category C - E. I don't even like category B, but I cringe as the categories suggest more and more pain is being used in their experiments.

      Laura-Leah Shaw

      Dec 22, 2014 at 12:22am

      1 animal screaming in pain, discomfort and fear is 1 too many, let alone 76,496 animals enduring moderate to SEVERE discomfort and pain, and 63 ENDURING SEVERE PAIN at or above their pain threshold.

      Aside from giving the number of animals used in their experiments, when will UBC begin giving more information, such as what species are they using. What animals are grouped into the "large mammal" category and what species have the misfortune of being in the 'small mammal' group? What do they mean by 'breeding program' and is that for profit - are they breeding and then selling animals from the campus - and what fate awaits those innocent animals?

      And where do the PRIMATES used in experiments at UBC fit into the breakdown of the various pain and invassiveness categories?

      As for the timing of this announcement, why would UBC wait until the weekend before Christmas to release these numbers - do they think there will be fewer eyes watching the news over the holiday season, or is this their misguided idea of a Christmas gift to the animals Whose lives and deaths UBC's researchers control?

      We are hoping that Dr Gupta will lead UBC out of the dark ages and into more modern, cutting edge scientific research protocols that no longer use animals, instead making use of computer modeling and more accurate non-vivisection methods.

      Time will tell if UBC and their researchers are prepared to modernize their approach to research - but on behalf of the animals whose lives hang in the balance - we ask UBC to IMMEDIATELY STOP the Catagory D and E experiments.

      We urge all those who agree to write to Dr Gupta and the university asking for an end to these cruel and outdated experiments.

      Laura-Leah Shaw
      Director. STOP UBC Animal Research

      Elizabeth M. Ginn

      Dec 22, 2014 at 8:57am

      Barbaric! Disgusting! All unnecessary! Will be writing a letter....progressive university? Hah! A joke!

      Calm Down

      Dec 22, 2014 at 7:48pm

      Model organisms have been and still are critical in helping us understand molecular mechanisms. They are also essential in developing breakthrough therapies for various diseases and conditions. Even though afflicting harm on these organisms is not ideal, everyone here should take a step back and reflect on how much we know today has been dependent on experiments conducted on model organisms.

      Anne Birthistle

      Dec 23, 2014 at 12:25am

      Nearly 60% of the research shows as being 'basic' - ie curiosity-driven - research. To cause so much pain, distress and suffering for animals with admittedly no endpoint of cure in sight is scandalous. That we continue to torment animals in this age of personalized medicine and indeed jeopardize human health by failing to embrace human-based approaches is beyond scandalous - it is a crime. We don't need to regulate crime - we must condemn it.

      Animals

      Dec 26, 2014 at 12:15am

      UBC ought to change it's motto from " a place of mind" to "a place of animals" <--- referring to the people abusing these poor animals.

      Especially the "large mammals (1,778 or 0.82 percent), and marine mammals (360 or 0.17 percent). (That's 3,319 mammals, or 1.53 percent, in total.)"

      Typically animal research is used to validate Commercially viable products (Drugs etc) for the Primary benefit of large global corporations that issue grants to the university.

      Disgusting commercial driven "research".

      UBC is NOT part of the CAAT Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT).

      CAAT founded by John Hopkins University in 1981.

      The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), founded in 1981, is part of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, with a European branch (CAAT-Europe) located at the University of Kostanz, Germany.

      We promote humane science by supporting the creation, development, validation, and use of alternatives to animals in research, product safety testing, and education.

      We seek to effect change by working with scientists in industry, government, and academia to find new ways to replace animals with non-animal methods, reduce the numbers of animals necessary, or refine methods to make them less painful or stressful to the animals involved."

      Source : http://caat.jhsph.edu/about/index.html