Animal experiments end in tears for a lonely chimp

EVERY year millions of animals are subjected to incredible suffering and death in experiments which are very often non-conclusive and unnecessary.

Many reputable scientists now acknowledge that a great number of these tests could be eliminated and replaced by more sophisticated methods which would not involve the use of animals.

Of course, for the corporate giants that use these defenceless creatures it would mean investment in more humane methods but, sadly, profit always wins over morals.

As George Bernard Shaw observed, “vivisection is a social evil because if it advances human knowledge, it does so at the expense of human character”.

The renowned heart surgeon Christian Barnard shared one of his experiences on animal testing: “I had bought two male chimps from a primate colony in Holland. They lived next to each other in separate cages for several months before I used one as a [heart] donor. When we put him to sleep in his cage in preparation for the operation, he chattered and cried incessantly. We attached no significance to this, but it must have made a great impression on his companion, for when we removed the body to the operating room the other chimp wept bitterly and was inconsolable for days. The incident made a deep impression on me. I vowed never again to experiment with such sensitive creatures”.

Would that other scientists could follow the compassionate example of Dr Barnard. In our consumer society, many people prefer not to consider a subject as emotive as animals being subjected to barbaric treatment at the hands of us humans.

It is so easy to assume that, as individuals, we cannot do anything to influence companies to stop this type of testing. We should not underestimate the collective power of the consumer. Concerned individuals can log on to www.caringconsumer.com and access a list of companies that do not use animals in their test methods. If some companies can test without using animals, so can all of them. If readers need to witness some of the test methods used on animals, they can also log on to www.peta.org

The cruelty and pain suffered by the animals in so many of these experiments is appalling.

Mahatma Gandhi said: “I abhor vivisection with my whole soul. All the scientific discoveries stained with innocent blood I count as of no consequence”.

Shame on the people who carry out these procedures, shame on us who do nothing to stop it.

Or as Martin Luther King said: “Our world ends when we become silent about the things that matter”.

Edward Twohig

Ballycurreen

Glounthaune

Co Cork