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Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
"Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation"

Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Contact:  Michael Budkie, SAEN 513/575-5517


Harvard, Wisconsin Labs Accused Of 'Lying' To USDA Over Use Of Animals In 'Painful' Experiments

CINCINNATI - A national research watchdog organization said today it has filed an "official complaint" against Harvard University and the University of Wisconsin for performing painful/stressful experimentation on primates without anesthesia - and lying to federal regulators (USDA) about it.

The complaint is the result of investigations performed to produce a national report on primate experimentation -  "The Primate Experimentation Scandal, 2003," which will be released this week.

The report, based on internal government documents reveals that U.S. labs confine nearly 100,000 primates per year at an estimated cost to the federal government of more than $530 million.

"Officials of the New England Primate Research Center are performing highly invasive and painful/stressful experiments on primates and lying about it to the USDA," said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director of SAEN. 

"Experiments at Harvard subject primates to addictive drugs, confinement in restraint chairs, and total social isolation (which is known to cause insanity in primates).  Yet, Harvard believes these experiments do not cause pain or distress."

Government documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act reveal that as many as 605 primates at Harvard may be experiencing pain/distress. 

"On one hand they say that the experiments are too invasive/painful to be performed on humans, and yet they also say that these same projects don't cause primates any pain or distress. You can't have it both ways," he said.

At Wisconsin, internal government and university documents 109 primates at the UW were used in potentially painful/stressful experiments. Post mortem records indicate that another 29 primates died of severe chronic and/or traumatic conditions.

"When we are discussing primates who are emaciated, have a total lack body fat, and have suffered from diseases like pneumonia, encephalitis or meningitis, then we are definitely discussing primates who have experienced pain and distress," added Budkie. The report is available at www.saenonline.org/event-nplw-2003.html.

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