Protesters claim win over animal test conference

An animal welfare lobby opposed to the use of animals in experiments says a major scientific conference has effectively gone into hiding because of concerns over protest action.

The Australia and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) conference, due to open in two weeks, was scheduled to be held at the National Library in Wellington, opposite Parliament, but the library announced yesterday that the booking had been cancelled.

Animal rights supporters in the National Anti-Vivisection Campaign (NAVC) had been sending letters and emails to the National Library promising noisy protests throughout the three-day conference, which was due to start on June 26.

NAVC spokesman Mark Eden said the booking had been cancelled because of fear of protest.

"The National Library didn't really want the hassle and controversy of hosting a vivisection conference," he said.

"We believe the ANZCCART conference will still be going ahead at another location in Wellington.

"Animal rights activists from all over the country are still coming to Wellington for the protests and we will find the new venue"

The council promotes an approach known as the "three Rs", advocating reduction, refinement and replacement in the use of animals in research.

In 2003, 320,911 animals were used in experiments and the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) said 43 per cent - a lower percentage than usual - died or were killed during "manipulation".

"Usually about half of the animals used die or are destroyed during or after the manipulation," said the council, which is due to report the 2004 figures next month. In 2002, 263,684 animals were used, and 51 per cent died.

Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton has sought advice from ministry officials on a formal proposal by the NAEAC that the killing of research animals be formally considered a "manipulation" of the animal.

At present, there is no distinction between the humane killing of research animals and the killing of animals for food or because they are unwanted. Research statistics do not count animals which are humanely killed in experiments or teaching.

In the Animal Welfare Act, "manipulation" means subjecting an animal to an unusual or abnormal procedure, such as exposing the animal to any parasite, micro-organism, drug, chemical, biological product or environmental condition, or enforced activity, restraint, nutrition, or surgical intervention, or depriving the animal of usual care. Death is not counted as manipulation.

- NZPA