Bristol University has halted forced swim tests on animals after a five-year PETA campaign, marking a significant victory for animal rights advocates.
Bristol: Bristol University has decided to stop its forced swim tests on animals. This change comes after a long campaign by PETA that lasted five years.
The university didn’t say the tests were unethical. Instead, they mentioned that the research project using these tests is ending soon.
Forced swim tests involve placing a mouse or rat in water where it can’t escape. The animals struggle to stay afloat, which researchers used to study stress.
PETA led a major campaign against these tests, and many celebrities joined in. They included actors like Anjelica Huston and Mark Rylance, who wrote letters to the university.
Protests took place at the university and around Bristol. Some events were disrupted to raise awareness about the tests.
PETA even offered to donate money to the university if they stopped the tests, but the university declined. Students also protested during important events.
The university stated that they are not planning to use forced swim tests in future research. They acknowledged the ethical discussions surrounding animal testing.
PETA called the forced swim test a “bogus” experiment. They believe it doesn’t help in treating mental health issues in humans.
After years of campaigning, PETA celebrated this decision. They noted that Bristol University was one of the last in the UK to conduct these tests.
The Home Office is also looking to ban this test entirely, which would be a significant step for animal rights in the UK.
