[16.11.15] The statistics in this post have been corrected. Previously we showed figures from studies completed in the last quarter. Here are the official 2014 statistics.
Earlier this week we focused on Finland’s animal research statistics, now we move 1,000 miles south west to Switzerland. We have translated the Swiss National Statistics on animal research, and provided much of the information in the table below.
Overall, there were 606,505 animals (not including invertebrates except Cephalopoda and lobsters) used in research and animal testing in Switzerland in 2014. Most of these animals were involved in basic research, which overwhelmingly used mice.
95% of the research was conducted on mice, rats, fish and birds – similar to other European countries. Monkeys (251), cats (788) and dogs (3,286) together accounted for 0.7% of all research animals.
Suffering was also measured and classified under four categories of severity. 42% of experiments were sub-threshold, 35% were mild, 21% were moderate and 2% were classified as severe.
Overall there has been a steady downward trend in the number of animals used in research in Switzerland over the last 30 years, although this has stabilised more recently.
Speaking of Research 