Anti vivisection campaigners welcome closure of Wallaceville

Anti vivisection campaigners have welcomed the proposed closure of Wallaceville Animal Research Centre. But the National Anti Vivisection Campaign (NAVC) warns that animal experiments may increase at other AgResearch centres.

Mark Eden, spokesperson for NAVC, said "Wallaceville was the countries first and oldest vivisection laboratory. Hundreds of thousands of animals have suffered and died there over the years. I'm glad its going to close, it is a disgrace to the country. The only sad thing about this is the closure will mean an increase in the number of animals used at other AgResearch centres".

Mr Eden says AgResearch uses animals in experiments at all its major sites around the country. "Every year, around 50,000 animals suffer and die in AgResearch laboratories and farms. Species used for experiments at AgResearch labs include cattle, chickens, dogs, goats, guineapigs, horses, mice, pigs, possums, sheep and rats. Although AgResearch is a publicly owned company, it refuses to release information about the research they do".

The NAVC says genetic experiments on animals are a major part of AgResearchs work, and are on the increase. "Gene transfer experiments involve a high degree of severe suffering to the cloned animals and the surrogate mothers. Most transgenic embryonic transfers are unsuccessful, and many result in spontaneous abortion of fully conscious foetuses, infections in the mothers, and stress to the embryo donors" said Mr Eden.

The National Anti Vivisection Campaign was formed late last year to campaign against animal experiments in New Zealand.

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