Animals Used in NZ for Science in 2014

Animals Used in NZ for Science in 2014

An overview of the animals used in NZ for research, testing and teaching purposes in 2014.

TOTAL NUMBER OF ANIMALS USED: 310,287

THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS WHO DIED: 106,739

Purposes

Animals were used in the following ways in 2014:

  • Basic biological research: 75,334
  • Veterinary research: 59,624
  • Teaching: 52,534
  • Animal husbandry research: 47,698
  • Medical research: 29,976
  • Testing: 21,082
  • Environmental management research: 15,163
  • Species conservation: 6,114
  • Other: 2,497
  • Production of biological agents: 199
  • Development of alternatives: 66

Types of Animals

The following animals were used in 2014:

  • Amphibia: 771
  • Birds: 31,588
  • Cats: 728
  • Cattle: 75,496
  • Cephalopods/crustaceans: 4,756
  • Deer: 25,058
  • Dogs: 1,006
  • Fish: 40,555
  • Goats: 3,176
  • Guinea pigs: 1,864
  • Horses/donkeys: 237
  • Marine mammals: 843
  • Mice: 58,379
  • Pigs: 724
  • Possums: 3,983
  • Rabbits: 1,445
  • Rats: 11,807
  • Reptiles: 325
  • Sheep: 44,745
  • Misc. species: 2,801

Organisation Type

The following types of organisations used animals in 2014:

  • Universities: 120,445
  • Commercial organisations: 105,859
  • Crown Research Institutes: 50,657
  • Other (commercial medical research, individuals etc.): 16,975
  • Government departments: 8,103
  • Polytechnics: 5,800
  • Schools: 2,448

Source:

Up until 2014, The National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) published an annual report that included information on the animals used in New Zealand for research, testing and teaching. Now, this report no longer includes the annual animal use statistics. These are now published separately. 

MPI report for 2014.

NAEAC report for 2014.

Find out more about the animal manipulation forms (for example the definitions of the different purposes) here: Animal Use Statistics – Guidance for Completing Statistical Returns.


READ MORE