Alarming figures reveal the extent of animal harm inside Great Britain’s laboratories

The statistics outline that 12,651 LD50-type tests were conducted. These tests are incredibly cruel – involving animals being given increasing doses of a substance until half of them die. Animal Aid is currently campaigning for an end to these tests since there is a new totally humane, animal-free method, AcutoX, available (visit www.endanimaltests.com to find out more and sign the petition).

184,541 rats, known for their intelligence, curiosity, and capacity for enjoyment, were harmed in laboratories. The suffering inflicted upon these creatures is unimaginable. Rats are often the animal used in LD50 tests. They are poisoned to try to discover how toxic a substance is to humans, despite rats differing from people in so many ways.

2,683 dogs, 6 cats, 39 horses and 1,820 monkeys were used in experiments. Almost all of the animals who are harmed in experiments will be killed afterwards so that their organs can be taken.

Animal Aid has been campaigning for an end to the LD50 Tests and has highlighted AcutoX, the ground-breaking test that has rendered LD50 tests obsolete. This innovative test was developed by XCellR8 and is entirely vegan and cruelty-free. In 2021, 11,758 LD50-type tests were carried out, which is a shocking statistic. The figures released this year represent a distressing 7.6% increase on LD50-type tests on the previous year. The disturbing increase in the number of experiments being carried out only serves to intensify concerns about the regulatory framework that oversees these practices.

Campaign manager, Daisy Hall, says:

“The thought of so many individual animals enduring the horrors of living, being harmed and then killed in laboratories is unimaginable. This is especially true considering the abundance of more advanced technologies that can bolster the nation’s scientific standing while safeguarding human health. Animal Aid urges all individuals engaged in animal experiments to break away from archaic and cruel animal experiments and redirect their resources to innovative, human-relevant research. By embracing cutting-edge approaches, we can pave the way for scientific advancements and uphold the principles of ethical progress.”