Kiwis cut lab rat rates

A new report by New Zealand's National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) indicates that NZ researchers are now less inclined to reach for the rodent than in previous years, with a 17 per cent drop in the number of animals being used for research, testing or teaching last year.

The report stresses the move towards both pain minimisation and replacement of live animal studies, and urges researchers to use alternatives if possible.

"A duty of care involves the prevention of undue pain or stress to animals when they are used for research... any potentially adverse effects of a manipulation should be anticipated by the researcher and all steps to avoid pain and distress should be foreshadowed and implemented," noted chairperson Wyn Hoadley.

"A duty of care requires a commitment to [animals'] well-being beyond the minimum standard. It is based on the universal principles of the three Rs - reduction, refinement, and replacement," she added.

Overall animal usage decrease was from 318,500 to 263,600, with the two biggest drops being possums and fish. Although numbers of animals used for medical research was up from 5.5 to 11.5 per cent, the majority of research was in basic biology, up from 14.1 to 32.6 per cent. Environmental management rats can breathe easier, with a reduction from 32.5 to 5.5 per cent since last year.

Only 0.6 per cent of animals were used in genetic modification research.