We are shocked and appalled following todayās publication of an annual report that details the number of animals used in scientific procedures, the level of suffering they have endured and the reasons for their suffering in 2024.
- A total of 2,554,447 animals were used in 2,637,578 procedures. This is a small decrease from 2023, but still shockingly high for a ānation of animal loversā
- 1,478 primates were used and almost all were killed afterwards
- Of the 2,554,447 animals used in experiments in last year, 1,651 were dogs 35 cats, 149,571 rats and 1,861,424 were mice
- ‘Severe’ is the highest level of harm and the worst suffering that is permitted to be inflicted on an animal – there were 48,224 ‘severe’ experiments in 2024*
We are especially outraged that the number of LD50 procedures was 11,992. The LD50 test stands for ‘lethal dose 50’ and involves giving living animals increasing doses of a substance until half of them die – this informs scientists of a substance’s lethal dose. The problem is that the LD50 test is cruel and, having been devised in 1927, is outdated and unreliable.
Read about our work to replace the LD50 test
Prior to the 2024 General Election, the Labour party manifesto pledged to: ā…partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testingā. The government’s strategy to honour this promise is expected to be published soon.
Once a year we are told how many animals have suffered in British laboratories, the previous year. The numbers are so high that it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that each of these animals was an individual capable of feeling pain and suffering, much as humans do. With so many human-relevant non-animal methods available Animal Aid is urging all those involved in animal experiments to instead use modern cutting-edgeĀ science,Ā which doesĀ not involve harming animals.
Jessamy Korotoga, Head of Science
Animals continue to be exploited for science becauseĀ current law and regulatory bodies still demand their use in toxicology and safety testing, maintaining an outdated and unreliable practice that benefits industry, not human health.
In fact, this reliance on animals is not just unethical but scientifically wasteful. Studies confirm that over 92% of drugs that pass animal tests fail in human clinical trials. This shocking lack of human-relevance proves animal testing is a dangerous roadblock to medical progress, especially when there are superior alternatives! Human-relevant, non-animal methods like organs on chips, advanced computer models, and cell cultures are more accurate, faster, and cruelty-free.
Continuing this suffering is a failure to embrace modern, effective science.Ā
Notes for editors:
*Examples of the experiments which would result in āsevereā suffering include; toxicity testing where death is the end-point, or fatalities are to be expected and severe pathophysiological states are induced; complete isolation for prolonged periods of social species e.g. dogs and non-human primates; models with induction of tumours, or with spontaneous tumours, that are expected to cause progressive lethal disease associated with long-lasting moderate pain, distress or suffering.
