AAHR - Australian Association for Humane Research Inc.

Statistics 2005 - 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.

As at the time of posting, Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory statistics had not been obtained. In the 2004 year, these totalled 766,597 between them, which suggest the national 2005 figure to be approx. 5 million animals.

Figures will be updated as they become available

Type of animals Vic NSW SA Tas ACT Total
Mouse 362,520 179,245 31,538 2,281 85,340 660,924
Rat 40,741 36,609 9,115 1,813 3,157 91,435
Guinea Pig 9,921 2,794 1,044 4 228 13,991
Rabbit 2,504 7,519 738 10 68 10,839
Other lab animals 1,018 780 305     2,103
Cat 425 1,099 160   8 1,692
Dog 1,308 3,194 100   11 4,613
Other domestic   3       3
Sheep 34,253 112,253 30,679 7,251 397 184,833
Cattle 24,978 21,236 943 722   47,879
Pig 7,466 3,977 1,264   9 12,716
Horse/donkey 5,829 4,060 275     10,164
Other stock animals 739 292 848     1,879
Native mammals 7,845 48,078 4,842 2,540 47 63,352
Exotic ‘feral’ animals 199 5,016 890 117 143 6,365
Primates 140 207       347
Domestic fowl 227,635 624,205 8,855   713 861,408
Other birds 58,733 238,405 26,635 51,501 356 375,630
Reptiles 2,116 12,978 7,607 1,334 347 24,382
Fish 748,963 995,890* 23,325 36,457 174 1,804,809
Amphibians 5,404   1,090 419 605 7,518
Other aquatic animals 17,599   494 7,227   25,320
Other 4 266       270
Totals 1,560,340 2,298,106 150,747 111,676 91,603 4,212,472

* includes all aquatic animals

Note that ACT did not provide a breakdown of purpose and severity of experiments. The following tables will therefore not reflect the same total as that of species used.

Purpose of project Vic NSW SA Tas ACTTotal
Understanding human or animal biology 350,991 181,473 42,020 29,558   604,042
Maintenance and improvement of human or animal health and welfare 331,551 144,019 23,616 8,378   507,564
Improvement of animal management or production 700,027 371,628 42,907 65,607   1,180,169
Production of biological products   36,186       36,186
Diagnostic procedures   2,221       2,221
Achievement of educational objectives 38,527 645,751 20,797 5,410   710,485
Environmental study 139,244 916,828 21,407 2,723   1,080,202
            91,603
Totals 1,560,340 2,298,106 150,747 111,676 91,603 4,212,472

 

Severity of procedure Vic NSW SA Tas ACT Total
Observational studies involving minor interference 332,951 1,387,585 63,216 52,200   1,835,952
Animal unconscious without recovery 161,712 115,517 28,742 25,634   331,605
Minor conscious intervention 676,449 594,308 19,982 24,568   1,315,307
Minor operative procedures with recovery 234,769 36,565 8,471 456   280,261
Surgery with recovery 32,014 23,234 3,794 185   59,227
Minor physiological challenge 35,932 59,444 17,271 1,504   114,151
Major physiological challenge 85,714 16,385 7,756 6,997   116,852
Death as an end point 799 47,652 1,515 132   50,098
Production of genetically modified animals   17,416       17,416
            91,603
Totals 1,560,340 2,298,106 150,747 111,676 91,603 4,212,472

Sources

Vic.     

Summary of Statistics of Animal Experimentation, Victoria. Report Number 23. 1 January, 2005 to 31 December, 2005.

NSW   

Animal Research Review Panel NSW Annual Report 2004/05.

SA

Department for Environment & Heritage - South Australian Government.

Teaching and Research using animals in South Australia 2005.

Tas.     

Animal Research statistics Tasmania Annual Report, Report Number 10: 1 April 2005 to 31 December 2005. Animal Health and Welfare Branch, Dept. of Primary Industries and Water.The report covers 9 months only due to the reporting period being changed to a calendar year in order to be in line with other states reporting.

ACT

Jon Stanhope MLA, Chief Minister ACT, Personal correspondence 26 April 2007

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