Thursday 25 June 2020 | 22

2018: the sad figures for vivisection in France are out

2018: the sad figures for vivisection in France are out

Mis à jour le 03 July 2020

We had been awaiting them without much hope. The 2018 figures for animal experimentation in France have been published. Once again almost 2 million animals were used.

Hr blog

In February we revealed how the figures for vivisection had been manipulated after the statistics for Europe were published. Now the figures for France have been published, and there has been no progress!

Almost 2 million victims

1,910,519 victims were used in experiments, including 120,265 in lethal procedures and 357,353 in experiments categorised as severe.

Why? Because although nothing can justify the suffering of animals exploited in laboratories it is even more shocking to note that 36.2% were used for basic research! According to INSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale – National Institute for Health and Medical Research) the official definition of basic research is:

« Expanding horizons in the life and health sciences, and improving our understanding of biological phenomena, fundamental research is first and foremost a source of knowledge. The results of this exploratory research can be hard to predict, but it can also be particularly effective in revealing the totally novel concepts that are the drivers of progress and innovation. »

In other words there is no 'precise' objective, it's merely groping in the dark.

When one is aware of the limits and deficiencies it is no less shocking that 27% of animals are used for developing and manufacturing medicaments and food and conducting quality and safety tests. Moreover it is those experiments that mainly use our friends – dogs.

Appalling figures

The main victims are (of course?) the unfortunate mice (62% of animals used), and despite the European directives our companions are not spared:

  • 4,219 dogs used – 141 in severe and 202 in lethal procedures;
  • 1,185 cats used – 5 in severe and 4 in lethal procedures;
  • 482 horses and other equines used – 6 in severe and 5 in lethal procedures.

As for our primate cousins, from marmosets to macaques, 3,510 were used. No great apes, obviously, but it is known that partnerships mean that some research is outsourced to laboratories in other countries.

Reused, subjected to repeated suffering

Many animals are reused in several experiments. Most of these are reptiles (mainly viviparous lizards, 99%), then goats (78%), horses and other equines (75%) and cats (63%). Our cousins are also often reused: marmosets (71%), baboons (53%), rhesus monkeys (45%) and macaques (24%).

Of course these figures indicate that the number of lives taken is lower, but at what price! The increase in the length of the ordeal, even though not in its intensity, cannot be justified.

It is time for French research to make pertinent choices both in progress and in ethics. In the case of botulinum toxin, many lives can be saved using alternative methods, some of which already exist or soon will. And rather than sacrificing even more dogs by using those from pet-breeders, it would put an end to this senseless and shameful practice.

Translated from the French by Patricia Fairey

Annie Réma
Hr blog

In the subject

Animal testing: investigation from One Voice in Mauritius into long-tailed macaque breeding farms 'Monkeys Labs': from condoned mistreatment, proven trafficking, and health risks

Comments 22

I accept that publication of my comments is subject to the code of conduct.

Aziz | Sunday 21 November 2021

On évoque l'interdiction d'utilisation des animaux dans l'enseignement secondaire, on parle bien de son interdiction me semble-t-il.
Je n'ai pas trouvé d'information sur le sujet concernant l'enseignement à l'université (dans le cadre de travaux pratiques de physiologie pharmacologie par exemple au niveau deuxième et troisième cycle. Je n'ai vu évoquer que la recherche.
Qu'en dit la législation ? Car certains étudiants souffrent de devoir pratiquer des expérimentations animales faisant partie de leur programme universitaire alors qu'ils ont un problème éthique avec cela et de toutes les manières ils n'ont pas l'intention de se spécialiser dans la discipline... Est-il vraiment nécessaire de maintenir ce type de travaux pratiques à l'université ? Il y a-t-il une législation sur le sujet ?
Les enseignants de pharmacologie avec qui j'ai eu l'occasion d'échanger ne semblent pas du tout sensibles à ces arguments et entendent défendre l'expérimentation animale au niveau enseignement général.
Ne peut-on pas épargner les animaux et remplacer ces travaux pratiques par une autre approche de cet enseignement ?

Zeze | Monday 20 July 2020

Nous n'avons pas le droit d'utiliser les animaux pour la recherche médicale ou pour les cosmétiques.
J'arrête de verser des dons aux laboratoires qui utilisent des animaux pour leurs recherches

MARC | Wednesday 15 July 2020

Pensons au bien être de l'animal ce n'es pas un objet.
Marc

Isabelle | Tuesday 07 July 2020

Tous les consommateurs que nous sommes peuvent agir en refusant d'acheter des produits testés sur les animaux.
STOP à la maltraitance de tous les êtres vivants !
Je suis écœurée de voir ces chiffres. Honte à nous, les hommes !
Respectons la vie de tous les êtres vivants !