Exposing the atrocities inflicted on our closest relatives

2018 seems to have begun with a surge of international media exposing the use of primates in cruel experiments.   

No animal should be subjected to cruel and invasive experimental procedures, however primates seem to attract a higher level of sympathy and outrage due to their similarity to us, their high cognitive abilities and well-developed social structures. Being so close to humans, people seem to identify more with their suffering and the injustice of using them as mere "tools for research".

First we learned that Chinese researchers have cloned macaque monkeys. "The researchers say that they want to use this technique to breed macaques for biomedical research. Exact genetic copies of the same animal would reduce the variability in results when testing new drugs or other therapies."  What seems strange to me here is that firstly they are therefore acknowledging that there is variability in drug testing results shown within the same species (let alone the variability found between sexes, ages, lab conditions, stress levels etc.). Secondly, any potential new drugs would be intended for human benefit - not cloned macaques - so the species differences, and therefore variability, would be considerable and as such, render test results as unlikely to translate efficiently to humans. In this situation it would appear to be more beneficial NOT to have exact same genetic animal given that humans themselves can react differently depending on their own genetic differences to each other. 

Then we heard about German carmaker Volkswagen’s testing of diesel fumes on a macaque.

"In Albuquerque, a macaque monkey is cradled in what seems an affectionate embrace and then swiftly placed in an airtight glass cage. A hose connected to the exhaust pipe of a 2004 Ford F-250 pick-up truck pumps exhaust into the cage where the monkey watches cartoons with toddler enthrallment.

The cage fills with smoke, and the monkey becomes distressed, whimpering while its tiny hands search for an opening at the seams of the cage and in the walls, streaking the condensation and film on the glass with its panicked motions. After three to four hours, the live monkey is removed from the cage, a tube is inserted down its throat, and its lungs are scraped for samples and blood tests are conducted." [Source]

Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has decided to shut down a nicotine addiction study following the deaths of four squirrel monkeys involved in the research. This decision has thrown the debate open for all animal research and has attracted condemnation from pro-vivisection group Speaking of Research. I am however, perplexed by their concern: "Now that the study has been terminated, what happens to the animals? In the press release, it is stated that the animals involved in the now terminated study will be moved to a sanctuary. Again, many questions remain, particularly those relating to how the well-being of these animals will be assured in the long-term, and the external oversight and public transparency about the arrangements being made." To clarify, this is a group which promotes the use of animals in cruel experiments but they express concern about the monkeys going to a sanctuary. Am I the only one who sees the irony in this statement?

The three issues above have certainly exposed the secretive industry of primate experiments on a global scale - finally - but it would be wrong to think that it only happens overseas. It happens here too!

• For decades, University of Sydney have been using marmosets in brain and vision experiments, as has Monash University. This research involves the animals being placed in a stereotaxic frame, undergoing a craniotomy and having electrodes inserted into their brains while still alive. 
• Baboons have been used by the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and University of Sydney to test radioactive substances.
• The University of Melbourne has infected macaques with SIV (Simian immunodeficiency virus) and then removed their testis for analysis – again while still alive. 

It does of course read like a horror movie, but this is still happening – right here right now!  And Australia not only subjects primates to cruel and invasive procedures, we also breed them specifically for this purpose - marmosets and macaques in Churchill, Victoria and baboons in Wallacia, NSW. 

There are sound ethical and scientific arguments against the use of primates for human health research.

“Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals and the answer is: 'Because animals are like us.'
“Ask the experimenters why it is morally okay to experiment on animals, and the answer is: 'Because the animals are not like us.'
“Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction.”
—Prof. Charles R. Magel

Regardless of the researchers’ irrational attempts to use feeble excuses for animal experimentation the physical differences between humans and other primates suggests that they are inappropriate models for human disease.  The similarities mean that we should afford them ethical consideration and not regard them as mere tools for research.

I remain hopeful that the current international spotlight on these damning experiments will continue and this poor excuse for "research" will continue to be exposed, condemned and finally replaced with more humane and scientifically valid methods that will not only spare these intelligent and sentient individuals from suffering, but will also result in data that will advance medical progress expeditiously rather than hinder it.

For more information about the use of primates in research and how you can help our campaign, please visit BanPrimateExperiments.org.au.

For further information about animal experiments: Please visit www.HumaneResearch.org.au
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