TOTAL ANIMALS USED: 392,344

A total of 392,344 animals used for research, testing and teaching purposes were reported in 2022, that's 82,472 more than the previous year.

The rolling 3-year average was 315,913, which is an increase of 25,590 from the previous year.

NUMBER OF ANIMALS WHO DIED: 80,778 (20.5%)

A total of 80,778 animals died or were euthanised during or after manipulations (including animals who were killed for the purpose of using their tissues). This is 20.5% of the total number of animals used that year. See a breakdown below.

• Animals who died or were euthanised during or after manipulations: 56,403.
• Animals who were killed for their tissues: 24,375.

Additional animals killed:

In 2022, 134,845 animals that were bred for research, testing or teaching purposes but not used were killed. This included mice, rats, fish, guinea pigs, rabbits, possums, amphibians and cats.

This is 43,715 less animals than the previous year.

PURPOSES

Animals were used in the following ways in 2022:

• Basic biological research: 54,647
• Veterinary research: 171,448
• Teaching: 35,198
• Animal husbandry research: 47,855
• Medical research: 15,842
• Testing: 12,716
• Environmental management research: 15,073
• Species conservation: 4,875
• Other: 3,057
• Production of biological agents: 29,768
• Development of alternatives: 922
• Producing offspring with compromised welfare: 943

TYPES OF ANIMALS

The following categories of animals were used in 2022:

• Alpacas/llamas: 19
• Amphibia: 507
• Birds: 15,216
• Cats: 539
• Cattle: 194,701
• Cephalopods/crustaceans: 1,883
• Deer: 2,129
• Dogs: 659
• Fish: 32,945
• Goats: 2,019
• Guinea pigs: 1,547
• Horses/donkeys: 1,095
• Marine mammals: 2,305
• Mice: 47,184
• Pigs: 135
• Possums: 734
• Rabbits: 1,067
• Rats: 8,395
• Reptiles: 1,364
• Sheep: 72,882
• Misc. species: 4,898

ORGANISATION TYPE

The following types of organisations used animals in 2022:

• Universities: 170,640
• Commercial organisations: 140,526
• Crown Research Institutes: 35,363
• Other (non-university medical research institutes, zoos/wildlife parks and individuals): 20,341
• Government departments: 6,334
• Polytechnics and institutes of technology: 15,558
• Schools: 3,582

SOURCE

Animals were sourced from the following places in 2022:

• Farms: 248,247
• Breeding units: 60,043
• Captured: 27,503
• Commercial sources: 20,822
• Public sources: 18,282
• Born during project: 17,006
• Imported: 441

MORE INFO

The most commonly used species in 2022:

Cattle were the most used species in 2022 followed by sheep and mice.

“OTHER” species used

In 2022, 4,898 animals were reported in the “other species” category. This group was made up of:

• Bats: 2,210
• Ferrets: 3
• Hedgehogs: 42
• Stoats: 67
• Wallabies: 716
• Weasels: 4
• Wild ducks: 960
• Unborn/pre-hatched chickens: 836
• Sea lions: 7

Animals imported into NZ

A total of 441 animals were imported into New Zealand for research, testing and teaching purposes in 2022. These included 426 mice, 9 rabbits and 6 hamsters.