Thousands of animals have been subjected to harrowing tests involving explosions, poisons, and nerve agents at the top-secret Porton Down military laboratory in Wiltshire, MailOnline has revealed. Over the past three years, more than 2,000 animals, including pigs, rabbits, monkeys, guinea pigs, and mice, have been used in these experiments, which have drawn fierce criticism from animal rights advocates.  

 

 

The controversial experiments were disclosed following a Freedom of Information request, sparking condemnation from organizations like Peta. Dr. Julia Baines, Peta’s senior science policy manager, criticized the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for its practices. “Peta calls shame on the Ministry of Defence for conducting archaic and appallingly cruel experiments on monkeys, mice, pigs, and other animals, including injecting deadly viruses into their brains and exposing them to nerve agents,” she said.

 

Dr. Baines also highlighted that Britain remains one of the few NATO countries still relying on animals for such testing, despite having access to advanced technology. “It’s reprehensible that with the best technology in the world at its disposal and amid overwhelming public opposition to animal experimentation, the MoD still fails to modernize.”  

 

Porton Down is renowned as the UK’s premier research facility for chemical weapons and deadly diseases. Under constant armed guard, the laboratory houses some of the most dangerous pathogens known to humanity, including Ebola, anthrax, and plague. The site has also played a key role in national security, notably confirming the use of a Novichok nerve agent in the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in 2018.  

 

The MoD defends the animal testing, citing its necessity for life-saving research aimed at protecting British troops. According to a spokeswoman, “The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory conducts experiments ethically, in line with legislation. As well as work on emerging defence technology, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory develops new vaccines, therapies, and treatments that can save people’s lives. They are also committed to reducing the number of experiments on animals by only applying for a licence if research cannot be achieved any other way.”  

 

Despite these assurances, the details of the experiments paint a grim picture. Past procedures have reportedly included exposing live pigs to mustard gas, infecting monkeys with anthrax, and using guinea pigs in nerve agent studies. Other tests have involved blowing up pigs wearing body armor to simulate battlefield trauma and assess the effectiveness of next-generation flak jackets. The genetic similarity between pigs and humans has made them a preferred subject for simulating battlefield injuries.  

 

The data reveals an increasing trend in animal testing at Porton Down over the last three years. In 2021, 605 animals were killed, a figure that rose to 644 in 2023. The year 2022 saw a sharper spike, with 795 animals used, coinciding with heightened global tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mice made up the majority of the test subjects, with 1,797 killed between 2021 and 2023. The remaining figures include 64 guinea pigs, 97 marmosets, 83 pigs, and three rabbits.  

 

While the MoD insists that all experiments are conducted ethically and in accordance with legislation, critics remain unconvinced. The ongoing use of animals in such testing has ignited widespread calls for the adoption of alternative methods and the modernization of research practices. As the debate continues, the ethical and moral implications of these experiments remain under intense scrutiny.

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail 2024-01-03

 

 

This sort of report is usually very inaccurate.  Whilst tests may have used "pigs, rabbits, monkeys, guinea pigs, and mice", almost all will have been done on cheaper animals.  (Monkeys in particular are very expensive.) And why the fuss about mice dying when probably most people would be happy to lay a trap to kill mice invading their own house.

Of course, if PETA objects so strongly, would their members be willing to be the subjects of this important research? I rather suspect not.

3 hours ago, Foxx said:

This sort of report is usually very inaccurate.  Whilst tests may have used "pigs, rabbits, monkeys, guinea pigs, and mice", almost all will have been done on cheaper animals.  (Monkeys in particular are very expensive.) And why the fuss about mice dying when probably most people would be happy to lay a trap to kill mice invading their own house.

Of course, if PETA objects so strongly, would their members be willing to be the subjects of this important research? I rather suspect not.

 

Neither people nor animals, if they could speak, would want to be experimented on in this way. Humanity would do well to reflect on its' appalling treatment of animals since the beginning of time. 

 

 

 

7 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Humanity would do well to reflect on its' appalling treatment of animals since the beginning of time. 

 

Humanity would also do well to reflect upon the amazing scientific advances that have come from such treatment.

38 minutes ago, Foxx said:

 

Humanity would also do well to reflect upon the amazing scientific advances that have come from such treatment.

So, you approve of experiments on animals that benefit humans ?

3 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

So, you approve of experiments on animals that benefit humans ?

 

Yes.  100%.

Animal experiments are required to advance scientific knowledge, and animal testing is required to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of potential treatments.  I don't regard human and rodent lives to be of equal value.

2 minutes ago, Foxx said:

 

Yes.  100%.

Animal experiments are required to advance scientific knowledge, and animal testing is required to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of potential treatments.  I don't regard human and rodent lives to be of equal value.

I disagree. So be it 

They should use peaodofiles for these experiments, not innocent defenseless animals.

While I don't advocate actually doing it, maybe they should leak word that they're using the inflatable boat people.

 

41 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

So, you approve of experiments on animals that benefit humans ?

Duh,  YES!!! How many times did you redo kindergarten?

38 minutes ago, Truth Teller said:

Duh,  YES!!! How many times did you redo kindergarten?

Thank you. Have a nice day.

Do other developed countries, such as those in the EU, experiment on animals these days?

No idea.

11 hours ago, Purdey said:

Do other developed countries, such as those in the EU, experiment on animals these days?

No idea.

 

Many have banned the use of animals for cosmetic testing, including the EU and the UK.  However, experimentation to advance medical knowledge is practised in all developed countries AFAIK.