University refutes animal rights ad

From the archive, first published Thursday 13th May 2004.

Oxford University officials have spoken out against animal rights activists who are campaigning to stop an £18m primate research laboratory being built in Oxford.

Their comments come after anti-vivisection group Speak placed a half-page advert in yesterday's Oxford Mail in a bid to recruit more campaigners.

Last month, Speak members held a demonstration in Oxford and pledged to go on protesting until plans for the laboratory were dropped.

The advert detailed Speak's arguments against vivisection, stating the university was sending misleading messages about the experiments to be carried out and the number and types of animals to be used.

It included details, reported in the Mail earlier this month, about a demonstration on Saturday, May 15, campaigning for the release of the "Oxford Two" -- two monkeys Speak campaigners want to place in a sanctuary.

But Oxford University registrar David Holmes said the "Oxford Two", which were used for brain experiments, were put down four years ago.

He responded to claims in the advert that the pro-vivisectionists refused to enter the debate about the ethics of animal experiments. He said: "The university is committed to freedom of speech within the law, on this and all matters.

"To ensure the facts and issues are laid out openly before the public we have published information about the use of and need for animals in research in the Oxford Mail and on our website. However, we are not prepared to debate with those who advocate intimidation of people engaged in lawful activities."

He said researchers did not want to use animals unnecessarily, and said techniques were being developed to replace animals in experiments.

He said: "When it is essential to use animals, we ensure that they experience the highest standards in animal welfare; our new building will replace older housing with an environment based on the latest understanding of animal husbandry.

"All our research using animals is conducted under the strict regulations; this means that, once an animal has reached the end of a period of experiments, it must be humanely killed."

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