27 February 2020
The escape of three baboons in Sydney this week has raised concerns about primate experimentation within Australia for research. Most are unaware of the harsh reality that we are breeding and testing on baboons, macaques and marmosets every day, with Australian taxpayer dollars through the National Health and Medical Research Council.
272 primates were used in invasive experiments in the year 2017 (latest available statistics from Humane Research Australia). These include baboons, marmosets and macaques. Baboons are purpose-bred at a breeding facility in Wallacia, NSW. Marmosets and macaques are bred in Gippsland Victoria.
TAKE ACTION against primate research in Australia:
1. Sign Humane Research's petition here to ban primate experiments in Australia 2. Contact your local MP here and ask them to end the importation and use of primates for research 3. Use the CCF List to ensure that your cleaning products, skin care, cosmetics and personal care products aren't tested on animals
Image from HRA
Over the past four years:
A female macaque was found in a barrel outside dead in a pool of blood. A female macaque was found in her cage barely able to move. Staff attempted to recover her with fluids and warmth but she died about 1.5 hours later. A female marmoset was found listless and bleeding from her bowel. After being treated and placed in a humidicrib she began gasping for breath and died. A male marmoset was found listless with shallow breathing and vomiting clear foamy liquid. The vet was called for treatment but the marmoset died 30 minutes later.
Specifically, baboons have been used to test radioactive substances, and pregnancy hypertension (both at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital), subjected to preeclampsia experiments and had shoulder tendons cut to investigate the healing process – all in Australia and funded by taxpayers.
“Not only is this a cruel and unethical industry, it is a huge waste of precious resources – funding and time that would be better spent on research methods that are applicable to humans – not a pseudo-model of a human that is more likely to lead to erroneous data.” Helen Marston, HRA
Read the full release here from our friends at Humane Research Australia.