Statistics 2004 - Animal use in research & teaching, Australia
The following table is comprised of the latest available statistics of animal use in research and teaching in Australia. These statistics should be used for general purposes only.
Note that due to inconsistencies between the different states' monitoring systems, the table does not reflect the degree of suffering involved nor does it indicate the type of study, eg. observational, medical research, agricultural etc. Some states do provide greater detail than others. For more detailed information please refer to the reporting body (usually the State Dept. for Animal Welfare) in each state.
As at the time of posting, Northern Territory and ACT statistics had not been obtained.
Figures will be updated as they become available
| Type of animal | Vic | NSW | SA | WA | Qld | Tas | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mouse | 299,683 | 32,190 | 47,910 | 113,962 | 1,073 | 494,818 | |
| Rat | 37,652 | 10,537 | 9,936 | 8,513 | 1,508 | 68,146 | |
| Guinea Pig | 10,129 | 988 | 405 | 187 | 11,709 | ||
| Rabbit | 3,242 | 622 | 145 | 2,421 | 6 | 6,436 | |
| Other lab animals | 230 | 173,411 | 303 | 173,944 | |||
| Cat | 1,103 | 146 | 631 | 652 | 2,532 | ||
| Dog | 1,739 | 54 | 1,757 | 3,237 | 6,787 | ||
| Other domestic | 40 | 1,702 | 17 | 129 | 1,888 | ||
| Sheep | 37,623 | 199,172 | 5,169 | 27,885 | 3,383 | 273,232 | |
| Cattle | 18,849 | 511 | 413 | 56,459 | 80 | 76,312 | |
| Pig | 19,960 | 861 | 1,648 | 8,860 | 31,329 | ||
| Horse/donkey | 6,304 | 320 | 189 | 934 | 7,747 | ||
| Other stock animals | 1,220 | 761,514 | 59 | 125 | 1,128 | 764,046 | |
| Native mammals | 5,933 | 149,986 | 4,531 | 11,265 | 6,980 | 1,060 | 179,755 |
| Exotic ‘feral'animals | 400 | 4,703 | 1,494 | 2,093 | 9,843 | 18,533 | |
| Primates | 106 | 314 | 38 | 19 | 477 | ||
| Domestic fowl | 2,231,258 | 15,207 | 800 | 56,148 | 2,303,413 | ||
| Other birds | 25,130 | 308,432 | 14,484 | 1,503 | 27,141 | 5,450 | 382,140 |
| Reptiles | 1,329 | 9,748 | 5,686 | 7,243 | 6,453 | 1,530 | 31,989 |
| Fish | 72,615 | 43,756 | 82,126 | 213,808 | 35,531 | 447,836 | |
| Amphibians | 5,740 | 830 | 3,947 | 16,389 | 46 | 26,952 | |
| Other aquatic animals | 1,142,068 | 190 | 205 | 27,901 | 5,344 | 1,175,708 | |
| Other | 5 | 3141 | 4 | 17 | 109 | 3,276 | |
| Totals | 2,780,290 | 2,555,019 | 331,979 | 177,550 | 589,047 | 55,120 | 6,489,005 |
Sources:
VIC
Summary of Statistics of Animal Experimentation, Victoria. Report Number 2. 1 January, 2004 to 31 December, 2004.
NSW
Animal Research Review Panel NSW Annual Report 2003/04.
NSW figures are more general than for other states as they do not specify between different species. They are therefore listed under the following categories:
- Aquatic vertebrates – fish, amphibians and other aquatic vertebrates;
- Birds – all birds except poultry;
- Domestic animals – dogs and cats;
- Laboratory mammals – mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits;
- Native mammals – macropods, possums/gliders, native rodents; dasyurids, wombats, koalas;
- Primates – all non-human primates;
- Reptiles – all reptiles;
- Stock animals – sheep, horses, goats, pigs, cattle, poultry; and
- Other – any not categorized above.
SA
Department for Environment & Heritage - South Australian Government.1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 .
WA
Western Australian animal usage statistics for 2004 , Dept. of Local Government and Regional Development, WA.
Qld
2004 Scientific Animal Use Report .1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004 . Dept. of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland Government.
Tas
Animal Research statistics Tasmania Annual Report , Report Number 8: 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 . Animal Health and Welfare Branch, Dept. of Primary Industries, Water & Environment.