You are here:

Sad fate of surviving monkeys used in controversial brain research

Published on

Updated:

Five end up in another laboratory but where are the others?

A Belgian University has admitted it has taken five monkeys from a German laboratory we exposed conducting horrific brain experiments. Sadly, the monkeys have ended up in the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven’s Department of Neurosciences, and are likely to be subjected to similar gruesome testing. 

In May we were delighted to announce that a German laboratory you helped us to expose, the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics (MPI), had put an end to its cruel brain research on monkeys. 

But the location and wellbeing of the surviving monkeys is still unknown. We are now joining other animal groups to call for increased transparency and the whereabouts of these monkeys. Our appeal for more information is being supported by the internationally renowned primate expert, Dr Jane Goodall. 

Sarah Kite, Director of Special Projects at Cruelty Free International, said: “It’s unacceptable that the location and destiny of these monkeys is being kept secret. The MPI is a publicly funded German and EU laboratory and people in Germany and across Europe were shocked by the way in which the monkeys were treated and the suffering they endured at the facility. The animal research industry claims to be in favour of transparency and we believe strongly that the public has a right to know what has happened to these monkeys.” 

Your support has already helped us spark a debate about the use of primates in brain research. It means that the MPI will no longer be carrying out these brutal experiments on monkeys. We now won’t rest until we’ve convinced everyone responsible for funding, licensing and practicing experiments like these to end this unnecessary cruelty.