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Animal testing & research statistics
This information was taken from Australian Association for Humane Research www.aahr.asn.au


  • The following table is comprised of the latest available statistics of animal use in research and teaching in Australia. These statistics should be used for general purposes only.

  • Note that due to inconsistencies between the different states' monitoring systems, the table does not reflect the degree of suffering involved nor does it indicate the type of study, eg. observational, medical research, agricultural etc.  Some states do provide greater detail than others.  For more detailed information please refer to the reporting body (usually the State Dept. for Animal Welfare) in each state.

  • As at the time of posting, Northern Territory and ACT statistics had not been obtained. Figures will be updated as they become available.
The total number of animals used for research and teaching in 2004 was a staggering 6,489,005
Type of animal Vic NSW SA WA Qld Tas Total
Mouse 299,683   32,190 47,910 113,962 1,073 494,818
Rat 37,652   10,537 9,936 8,513 1,508 68,146
Guinea Pig 10,129   988 405 187   11,709
Rabbit 3,242   622 145 2,421 6 6,436
Other lab animals 230 173,411 303       173,944
Cat 1,103   146 631 652   2,532
Dog 1,739   54 1,757 3,237   6,787
Other domestic 40 1,702   17 129   1,888
Sheep 37,623   199,172 5,169 27,885 3,383 273,232
Cattle 18,849   511 413 56,459 80 76,312
Pig 19,960   861 1,648 8,860   31,329
Horse/donkey 6,304   320 189 934   7,747
Other stock animals 1,220 761,514 59 125 1,128   764,046
Native mammals 5,933 149,986 4,531 11,265 6,980 1,060 179,755
Exotic 'feral'animals 400 4,703 1,494 2,093 9,843   18,533
Primates 106 314 38 19     477
Domestic fowl 2,231,258   15,207 800 56,148   2,303,413
Other birds 25,130 308,432 14,484 1,503 27,141 5,450 382,140
Reptiles 1,329 9,748 5,686 7,243 6,453 1,530 31,989
Fish 72,615   43,756 82,126 213,808 35,531 447,836
Amphibians 5,740   830 3,947 16,389 46 26,952
Other aquatic animals   1,142,068 190 205 27,901 5,344 1,175,708
Other 5 3141   4 17 109 3,276
Totals 2,780,290 2,555,019 331,979 177,550 589,047 55,120 6,489,005

Sources

VIC
Summary of Statistics of Animal Experimentation, Victoria. Report Number 2. 1 January, 2004 to 31 December, 2004.

NSW
Animal Research Review Panel NSW Annual Report 2003/04. NSW figures are more general than for other states as they do not specify between different species. They are therefore listed under the following categories:
  • Aquatic vertebrates ­ fish, amphibians and other aquatic vertebrates;
  • Birds ­ all birds except poultry;
  • Domestic animals ­ dogs and cats;
  • Laboratory mammals ­ mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits;
  • Native mammals ­ macropods, possums/gliders, native rodents; dasyurids, wombats, koalas;
  • Primates ­ all non-human primates;
  • Reptiles ­ all reptiles;
  • Stock animals ­ sheep, horses, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry; and
  • Other ­ any not categorized above.

SA
Department for Environment & Heritage - South Australian Government.1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 .

WA
Western Australian animal usage statistics for 2004 , Dept. of Local Government and Regional Development, WA.

Qld
2004 Scientific Animal Use Report .1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 . Dept. of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland Government.

Tas
Animal Research statistics Tasmania Annual Report , Report Number 8: 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 . Animal Health and Welfare Branch, Dept. of Primary Industries, Water & Environment.