Irish labs experiment on 265,000 animals

Almost 265,000 animals were used for experiments in Irish research laboratories in 2011, one of the highest figures on record.

There has also been a significant rise in the number of animals subjected to lethal poisoning, with many being used in the production of cosmetics.

Statistics released by the Department of Health show that while the numbers of experiments overall are slightly down on 2010, Ireland remains near the top of the European table for animal testing.

The number has soared in the past six years, raising serious concerns among welfare groups. The latest figures show that 264,990 animals were experimented upon in 2011, down from 280,000 in 2010, but still a huge increase on the 2005 figure of 38,000.

The type of animals experimented on included horses, dogs, cats, mice, fish, birds, and rabbits. Unlike other years, the latest figures do not disclose whether most of the experiments were conducted under anaesthetic or the number tested for industrial use.

In 2010, most animals were tested without anaesthetic and 80% were used for experiments conducted by “commercial establishments”.

Neither do the latest statistics reveal the exact nature of many experiments. This has caused the Irish Anti-Vivisection Society (IAVS) to describe them as misleading and “not fit for purpose”.

Last month, animal rights campaigners expressed fury that the Government ignored calls for a ban on the killing of newborn animals by “concussion or blow to the head”.

Despite objections from the IAVS, the new methods are approved in EU legislation signed off by James Reilly, the health minister.

An IAVS spokesman said: “The statistics show a massive 55% increase – 62,732 more mice - subjected to the lethal LD50 poisoning tests. Most of these animals were suffering for cosmetic botox-type injections and similar products, yet the department obscures this by putting them under the ‘other products’ column rather than being up front and putting them in the ‘cosmetics’ column.

“Placing the majority of animal tests into the ‘miscellaneous/other’ columns frustrates informed debate and democratic accountability.”

IAVS policy consultant, Dan Lyons, added: “The degree of suffering endured by these animals is beyond comprehension.

“The fact that it is just for such a trivial and unnecessary vanity product shames our society.”

Animal welfare advocates are particularly concerned at the number of domestic pets like dogs and cats still being used for laboratory testing.

In 2011, 473 dogs were used in often painful experiments, as well as 120 cats. Tests were also carried out on 715 rabbits, 238 horses and donkeys, and 1,700 cattle. There has also been a large increase in the use of mice, particularly in conducting toxicology tests.

In 2011, almost 200,000 mice endured such tests, along with 112 dogs and 56 cats.

The IAVS said a 5% reduction overall in animal testing did not go far enough and revealed indifference to animal suffering by the Government and the Irish research industry.