More than a million mice used in Australian research annually, ‘overdue’ study finds

Bella Lear, the chief executive of Understanding Animal Research Oceania, says nationwide animal data is vital for Australia to be able to properly demonstrate the scope and quality of its overall research. Photograph: Understanding Animal Research

More than a million mice and nearly 47,000 rats are used in scientific research in Australia annually, according to the first ever nationwide count.

Dr Malcolm France, a veterinarian who compiled the data, described the count, released today, as “an overdue first step” towards publishing national statistics for all animals used in research, including fish, rabbits, birds and monkeys.