Animal Experimentation Statistics

Animal experimentation, i.e. the use of animals for research purposes, has been a subject of debate for quite some time now. Over the period, it has just intensified - with both sides being adamant on their respective stand. While those in favor of this practice highlight its pros to suggest that we can't do without this practice, those against it put forth numerous arguments against the practice in a bid to highlight why it needs to be outlawed. Basically, the arguments put forth by those who call for a ban on animal testing are accompanied by statistics which reveal that millions of animals are harmed or killed in course of these experiments every year.

Animal Experimentation in United States of America

Of the total animals used for research a major share - roughly around 80 - 90 percent, comprises rodents such as mice and rats. On the other hand, non-human primates account for 0.5 percent of the total animals used in testing procedures. These animals are used for testing of drugs, treatment procedures, chemicals, cosmetic products, food, etc. Other than this, a significant portion of these animals are also used for biological studies and curiosity driven experiments. Those in favor of animal testing are divided into two groups - the first group comprises people who believe that use of animals in research - irrespective of whether it is the field of medicine or cosmetics, is not a big deal. On the other hand, the second group comprises people who are of the opinion that animal experiments in the field of medicine is justified, but the same in cosmetic industry cannot be justified.

The data compiled by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reveals that approximately 1.2 million animals were used for experimentation in the United States in 2005. However, this number doesn't include rodents like mice and rats which make up for around 90 percent of the total animals used for research. It is estimated that somewhere around 100 million animals - ranging from tiny fruit flies to large non-human primates, are used for animal experimentation every year in the United States alone. Sadly, most of these cases go unrecorded as a result of the loopholes in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) of 1966. Every animal species used for testing is used for a specific purpose. For instance, dogs are used in medical testing owing to the striking similarity of their digestive system with the human digestive system. Approximately, 17-22 millions dogs are used in research every year. At the same time, these dogs (and other animals used for testing) are sheltered in unhygienic conditions wherein several individuals die of various diseases.

The statistics compiled by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) also reveals that 92 percent of the drugs which are so-called successfully tested on animals do not make it through the first phase of clinical trials in human beings. Even then, 40 percent of the research projects funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) involves testing on animals. Even worse is the fact that NIH still spends billions of dollars on such experiments. In 2009, for instance, the NIH spent $29 billion on research wherein animals were directly involved.

Animal Experimentation Across the World

Even more staggering are the statistics on animal testing compiled by the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) - a British animal protection and advocacy group, which reveals that as many as 100 million vertebrates are used for research purpose in the world every year. The word 'vertebrates' is important considering that the estimated figure of 100 million doesn't include invertebrates such as fruits flies or shrimps which are used on even larger scale. These are the facts which make you realize why you need to take a stand against this cruel practice.

Numerous species of animals - including cats and rabbits, are used for cosmetic product testing in the United States. In fact, rabbits are in high demand when it comes to product testing in cosmetic industry as the lack of pigment in their eyes makes it easy for the researchers to test these products. Statistics reveal that half of these animals used in cosmetic industry succumb to the torture that they are subjected to within 3-4 weeks of the experiment. After animal testing for cosmetics was outlawed in UK in 1997-98, the bigwigs of cosmetic industry in this nation outsourced the testing part to other parts of the world - including the United States of America.

The animal experimentation statistics compiled by PETA reveals that approximately 76,000 animals were subjected to research procedures which involved severe pain without being administered anesthesia in the United States in 2009. In Canada, the number of animals subjected to testing without anesthesia was 98, 633 animals for the same year, while the same in the United Kingdom was 2.7 millions. It also reveals that of the 3,541, 252 living animals were used for research in the United Kingdom in 2009, around 90,000 were used for "lethal" toxicity tests while 18,000 were used for tests involving the brain of these animals.

This problem is not restricted to the United States alone, but is quite prominent in several other developed and developing nations of the world. More importantly, the lobby of those who support this practice is backed by various entities, including cosmetic industry, which makes it quite strong in terms of money power. In such a situation, it is very difficult for the administration to come up with laws which would curb this inhumane practice of animal cruelty, and that explains why the Animal Welfare Act of 1966 in the United States doesn't provide protection to those animal species which are exploited the most.