Medical research relies heavily on animals — especially chimpanzees. Their obvious resemblance to humans makes them an easy target. Nonetheless, research in the United States severely damages the chimps physically and mentally, as can be seen in this video. According to a recent New York Times article, Congress is considering the termination of such testing. However, chimps aren’t the only animals suffering from invasive research, and we must begin looking into new methods of research to save millions of innocent creatures.
Of course, eliminating testing for just one species is a very important step — if Congress can manage to reach an agreement. Advocacy groups’ constant bombardments have finally begun to make an impact as real moves to halt chimp testing may be coming within a year; other species will have to wait their turn.
However, many still support animal testing, citing innumerable biomedical research successes. Chimps have been extremely helpful in assisting scientists to discover cures and treatments for various harmful diseases. For example, chimp research has led to the vaccine for hepatitis B, a disease that affects 170 million people worldwide.
However, despite the medical benefits, chimpanzees should not continue to suffer. Chimps subject to testing must live a life of total boredom — though some chimps are not so lucky. Those used in intensive biomedical research endure procedures that cause serious mental and physical damage. The chimps become extremely distressed, angrily attacking their barren cages and screeching at those around them.
Taking this alarming information into account and finally recognizing that the U.S. is the only developed country that has not banned chimp testing, Congress has drafted a bill that would prevent invasive research on all great apes. The Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act of 2011 (GAPCSA) would prohibit, among other things, invasive research on great apes. It defines “‘great ape’ as any chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, orangutan, or gibbon” and “‘invasive research’ as research that may cause death, injury, pain, fear, or trauma to great apes.” The act, though progressive, is long overdue.
Chimps and other apes have been suffering for decades to benefit humans and receive nothing in return. And recently, new research has proven that chimps are not necessary for successful medical developments. According to a New York Times article, doctors discovered a possible cure for HIV from the experience of a leukemia patient Berlin. The patient underwent two bone marrow transplants from a donor lacking CCR5, a protein that, if missing, gives the person natural immunity to HIV. This same method has now been used on HIV patients to see if the cure will last. Chimps have obviously been helpful in the past, but our technology has moved beyond their necessity in science.
Unfortunately, other test animals are not receiving the same attention from the government. Other innocent creatures continue to sacrifice their lives in the search for needed cures and vaccines. According to a Washington Post article, a recent study used mice to test out their new HIV vaccine. Scientists still use non-apes extensively for research and show no signs of stopping.
According to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), over 100 million animals suffer every year from various tests, lessons, and experiments. They sit in barren cages with no entertainment, developing neurotic behaviors like pulling out their own hair and pacing for hours. After years of suffering, almost all of these animals will die. While apes finally gain recognition, other, less human-like animals remain pushed to the side.
The new bill to combat ape-testing will — if passed — be a great step towards animal protection. However, our nation needs to consider the millions of other animals suffering every day at the hands of scientists. We obviously cannot halt animal research, as we do not currently have an alternative. However, the GAPCSA brings forward the need to protect animal rights. We must begin to invest in finding a new way to do research so that millions of animals will not be forced to endure our invasive research at their expense.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Discussion
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I hate the idea of animal testing, but I respect the fact that many vaccinations and treatments were found because of testing on animals. Perhaps banning the use of great apes will force scientists to put energy into alternatives to animal testing.
It's time to move beyond yesterday's science. Genentech and GlaxoSmithKline stopped using chimpanzees and are setting a powerful example for their reticent industry colleagues. With the explosion of technology over the past 10 years, we see a new world of scientific opportunity beyond animals.
That Iran is now in possession of a U.S. stealth drone is less worrying than the potential for Iranians to rally in support of their divided government amidst claims of foreign meddling. I fell that we should have away to destroy any technology that falls into the hands of the emeny.
I believe we humans do not lack any ability to develop right methods to achieve any goal. What we lack is the will to do so. We walk in the direction our nose is pointing, so to speak. Animal research is big business--very, very big business. That pretty much stops us from seeking right methods.
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First of all I feel that we need to continue with this type of testing if we are going to find any cures. We can not depend on testing on humans until it has been tested on animals to see what results we will get. Those that are behind the stop action must have never had anyone in their family sick.
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I agree that animals deserve protection, but we are far from being able to stop animal research. Researching alternative methods is desirable, but we are simply not able to replace animal research at this time and continue with the same level of scientific advancement and standard of public health.
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As a vegan I find this subject pretty damn confusing. I've cut all animal products from my diet, I've removed any leather or wool clothing I had and even my duvets and pillows are synthetic now. However it's impossible to eradicate all animal-tested medical products from our lives, and one cannot deny the extremely important discoveries and cures scientists achieve every day using Animal-based tests. I'm just confused.
I don't think you quite understand the advances in health science or the millions of lives that have been saved through the knowledge gained by laboratory tests on animals of all sorts. I actually agree with cessation of ape testing due to their cognitive abilities, but we'lll be losing an incredibly valuable tool in medical research and will be undoubtedly be exchanging the lives of apes for the lives of human beings. Animals with less developed frontal cortex's, that do not have the ability to comprehend their plight, are invaluable to science and the advancement of human civilization. I would gladly sacrifice the life of thousands of ignorant creatures for one human being that fully understands the concept of death and grief.
I'm all for improving the lives of animals in research testing and avoiding their use if necessary, but anyone who believes we've simply 'moved past' it is just wrong. Chimpanzees (and beagles) are often the focus because they're cute, but just as, if not the most important, are mice. Mice are used by almost every medical researcher looking at new vaccines, drugs, etc. Regardless of the animal, it is clear that on new compounds animal testing is still necessary in order to prevent unecessary harm to humans. I hope like many that real alternatives one day become possible and hope for improvement in the lives of testing animals, but until then I'm just fine with exchanging the lives of animals for these advancements.