What we advocate instead of animal experimentation

We advocate scientifically viable and non-harmful research, testing and teaching methods for humans and animals.

For humans these include:

• Human-relevant research for finding cures and treatments for humans as well as for testing the safety of products and substances for humans.
• Human-relevant teaching methods for training people on how to help people.
• Other non-harmful teaching methods.

For animals these include:

• Non-harmful research, testing or teaching that is done to improve the quality of health for the individual involved in the study - like Dr Jane Goodall’s historic and ground-breaking, correctly named ‘animal research’. Non-invasive generally means non-surgical. Interventions should be non-invasive except where necessary for an animal's recovery or improvement in health.
• Scientifically viable and non-harmful teaching methods - these can be non-animal-based for all teaching methods apart from training veterinarians and vet nurses and other animal care professions as there will be a point in the training process that students need to be exposed to animals, just like human doctors and surgeons. Using animals for veterinary purposes should – and can – match the use of human patients in research that will benefit humans: ethically and without harming any individual.
• Observational or behavioural research on free-living and sanctuary animals where participation is voluntary. This would involve the voluntary or passive participation of the subject where research methods are compatible with the subject's natural habits.
• Research, testing or teaching that is done for conservation purposes of the species involved in the study. These methods will exclude harmful interventions which would result in pain, injury, or death.

It is important to clarify that:

• We are fully opposed to and aim to abolish the use of animals to try and predict the human response to drugs and disease.
• We do not support research that significantly harms individuals, even when a conservation benefit may accrue. These or other benefits should be pursued through non-harmful research.
• The use of animals for the purpose of enhancing the animal agricultural industry is also something that we do not support. Rather than doing research and testing on animals to try and make them more productive for alleged human benefit, we should focus our efforts on eliminating the exploitation of animals. 

Further reading:

• Return to the main page about alternatives and replacement methods. 
• Read about why animal testing is both ethically and scientifically flawed.
• Learn more about how animals are used in science in NZ.
• Find out how you can help end animal experimentation.