In our continuing coverage of the use of animals for human injury research (note to PETA: no judgment implied either way), the UK Ministry of Defense has admitted that they destroyed up to 119 pigs in IED simulations. {Insert joke about English cooking here}.
On a serious note, the MoD claims that the tests have saved lives and the animals did not feel anything due to being anesthetized. However, critics point out that the questionable scientific validity of such tests (there is not much data on the correlation of the injures of a healthy comatose animal to a moving soldier) coupled with the ethical questions involved should probably lead to more discussion as to the appropriateness of the animal model used.
From the Daily Mail:
Official figures reveal 25 pigs were used in improvised explosive device experiments in 2006, 19 in 2007, 40 in 2008, and 35 in 2009. The animals are anaesthetised before the explosions.
The breed of pigs used in the experiments have skin similar to humans.
Scientists say the tests allow them to see injuries consistent with those inflicted by the Taliban on the battlefield and devise more effective post-traumatic techniques.
The MoD also wraps pigs in materials used to make body armour, such as Kevlar, to determine how effective it is at reducing damage from IEDs.
The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection said: ‘Not only are such experiments scientifically questionable… subjecting pigs to such massive mutilation and injury also raises profound ethical questions.’
Daily Mail:MoD blew up 119 live pigs in explosive tests…
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