Opposition to Otago’s new $50m animal research facility is on the rise

The Otago University’s announcement that they are planning to build a new $50 million, five-storey animal research facility, has created a response of outrage from various concerned organisations and also from members of the general public.

The New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS) strongly oppose the new animal lab. Thousands of people who have signed a petition against the University or who have sent direct messages to representatives of University, are also against the facility being built. Other animal rights organisations such as the SPCA and SAFE have also spoken out against the new animal lab.

The building of the facility has now started and NZAVS are reacting with a protest outside the building site this Saturday at 12am. They are inviting supporters to come down and join their peaceful protest.

“People are shocked by this plan because it is becoming more well known that animal-based research isn’t the most accurate or reliable method of research, especially in the medical field” stated NZAVS Campaign Manager, Tara Jackson.

“We are gathering outside this location to not only show our opposition to the new lab, but also to represent the thousands of animals that the University want to use, experiment on and kill on that exact spot once the facility is built” Miss Jackson added.

The University used 13,199 animals last year for research, testing and teaching. A majority of these were killed during or after experiments.

NZAVS and their supporters are asking for the $50million to be spent on a non-animal based research facility instead.

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