World Day for Laboratory Animals

World Day for Laboratory Animals is an international observance dedicated to advocating for the rights of laboratory animals. These animals are often used as expendable resources in experimentation and research. Animal rights organizations consider this practice inhumane and argue that it should be stopped. The holiday is celebrated annually on April 24.

History

The history of World Day for Laboratory Animals dates back to 1973 when it was founded by the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS). NAVS proposed developing innovative alternatives to using animals for product testing across various industries, particularly in pharmacology, nutrition, and medicine, where the demand for laboratory animals is highest. This initiative was later supported by Animal Defenders International (A.D.I.).

The holiday highlights a moral dilemma: the value of animal life versus human life. Numerous animals, often specifically bred for this purpose, are used in laboratory research. The majority of these animals are rats. Research involving laboratory animals has led to the development of safe and effective medicines that have saved millions of human lives. Due to this ethical complexity, the full realization of animal rights initiatives has remained challenging.

Interesting Facts

• The earliest known references to animal research date back to the 2nd century B.C.
• The DNA of mice and rats is more than 95% similar to human DNA, making them suitable subjects for experiments.
• Laboratory studies on animals allow scientists to observe physiological changes over their entire lifespan. If such experiments were conducted on humans, it would require keeping them in laboratories for their entire lives.

How to Celebrate

Engage with people who work in laboratories to learn their perspectives on animal experiments. Research online to discover the diseases that have been cured through animal research and the debates surrounding these practices.

Share information about the holiday on social media and ask others what they think about animal research.

When is World Day for Laboratory Animals in 2025?

World Day for Laboratory Animals is observed on April 24 each year.

Observations