TORONTO—Animal Justice is calling for an end to cruel monkey experiments at York University following the release of new undercover footage showing the animals suffering inside a lab.
The newly released video (here) from Last Chance for Animals (LCA) shows macaque monkeys with brain implants suffering at York in barren metal cages, exhibiting signs of severe distress.
The LCA investigation, first reported on by the Investigative Journalism Bureau, uncovered evidence of injuries linked to the implants, chronic dehydration, and abnormal behaviours commonly exhibited by monkeys experiencing psychological anguish.
“The suffering these monkeys are enduring at York University is absolutely heartbreaking,” said lawyer Camille Labchuk, executive director of Animal Justice, Canada’s leading national animal law organization.
“These experiments on such sensitive, intelligent animals are shocking in their cruelty, and are absolutely out of step with what most York students, alumni, supporters, and Ontarians would ever find acceptable,” said Ms. Labchuk.
“York University should immediately halt these horrific tests, remove the brain implants if possible, and find suitable sanctuary homes for these monkeys, equipped to care for the potentially complex needs arising from this experimentation,” Ms. Labchuk said.
A provision in Ontario’s Bill 75, which is soon expected to receive royal assent, will outlaw invasive experiments on dogs and cats. Although primate research is not banned in the legislation, the bill does allow these important protections to be extended to other “prescribed animals”, such as primates, in the future.
“The pursuit of incremental scientific advancements is not a blank cheque for unlimited cruelty. Animal experimenters have been permitted to operate in the shadows for decades, regulating themselves, engaging in practices the public would find abhorrent,” Ms. Labchuk said.
“The move by the Ontario government to end cruel research on dogs and cats is an incredible step in the right direction, but what Last Chance for Animals uncovered at York shows there is still much work to do to stop the most horrific forms of animal experimentation,” Ms. Labchuk said.
Premier Doug Ford announced his intention last year to end dog and cat testing after Animal Justice exposed brutal heart attack experiments on dogs at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London.
These barbaric York University experiments are happening at a time when non-animal alternatives are flourishing, often producing superior data that is more relevant to human physiology, in ways that can be quicker and cost less.
The federal government doesn’t regulate or oversee the use of animals in research and testing. Instead, Canada relies only on the guidelines set by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC), a private non-profit organization with no legal authority or law enforcement powers that operates without public oversight.
The CCAC only conducts pre-announced visits to laboratories every three years, and institutions in the private sector are not required to have CCAC certification.
Contact:
Josh Lynn
Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
Camille Labchuk
Executive Director
[email protected]
