Animal rights protesters say they have sent a message to the University of Bristol over the continued use of controversial animal testing today (Friday). On the eve of the university's annual open day, PETA activists dropped a giant banner from a bridge over the M32, with the aim of highlighting the use of 'forced swim tests'.
The tests involve placing a rat or mouse into a container filled with water from which they can't escape, so are forced to tread water to avoid drowning. Scientists at the University of Bristol say the tests are used to measure stress levels, and defended their use, saying they are necessary.
But the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - PETA - have a long-running campaign going on, which have involved stunts and lobbying across Bristol. And that continued today, the day after the death of the Queen, on a bridge over the M32 between Gatton Road and Waverley Street in the centre of Bristol
Read more: 'Rat man' seen thrashing around water tank in protest against University of Bristol animal testing
PETA activists dropped the giant banner, which read: "Uni of Bristol Stop Torturing Animals! Ban the Forced Swim Test". A spokesperson for PETA said the banner, which greeted drivers heading in to Bristol on Friday. "In these controversial and flawed experiments, small animals, who may or may not have been dosed with a test substance, are dropped into inescapable beakers of water, in which they paddle frantically in search of an escape, desperate to keep their head above water," a PETA spokesperson explained.
"Eventually, the animals may float. They’re then removed from the beaker and later killed.
"The test is erroneously assumed to shed light on mental health conditions in humans. PETA is urging the university to embrace superior, non-animal research instead.
“Aspiring University of Bristol students should know that rodents are tormented in these cruel and worthless tests,” said PETA UK Senior Campaigns Manager Kate Werner. “As opposition to forced swim experiments continues to grow, PETA is calling on the University of Bristol to adopt modern research methods that leave animals in peace and commit to never using the forced swim test," she added.
PETA said the University of Bristol are continuing to do the tests, and have not signed up to a group of 15 companies and universities to pledge to discontinue conducting the tests. Already this year, Metro Mayor Dan Norris has joined PETA activists in Bristol to call on the university to drop the tests, and the likes of Hollywood star Mark Rylance has written to the university too.
Earlier this year, a University of Bristol spokesperson said: “As a research university, we are committed to a culture of care where animals are treated with compassion and respect. We are in regular conversation with the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction and Animals in Research (NC3Rs) and the Home Office, as well scientific societies and academic colleagues, so we can keep up to date with the latest thinking on all aspects of research using animals.
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“We have ethical review processes in place which look at each research project individually to provide constructive feedback and to ensure that the most refined and appropriate methods are being used.
“We acknowledge that some people have concerns about the use of animals in research, but we also recognise that research involving animals is vital for advances in medical, veterinary and scientific knowledge to improve our understanding of health and disease and the lives of both animals and humans.”
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