Animal testing and research

Taking suffering out of science 

Animals don’t deserve to be used in experiments. Animal testing is a practice that belongs in the past. It’s time to prioritise animal testing alternatives that are safer, faster, and more reliable for humans—without causing animals to suffer. 

The problem with animal testing 

Millions of animals, including dogs, monkeys, rabbits, baboons, and mice, endure invasive and painful experiments every year. These procedures often occur without adequate pain relief and rarely predict how humans will respond to drugs or chemicals. Existing laws offer minimal protection for animals in laboratories. 

Research in Australia 

In Australia, the total numbers of animals used in research is largely unknown as there are no requirements to report them. However, we do know that more than 1,450,000 animals were tested for science, research and teaching in Victoria in 2024, and more than 2,380,000 animals were used in New South Wales in the 2022 reporting year, including 188 primates. In fact, Australia is home to three government-funded primate breeding facilities that supply macaques, marmosets and baboons for experiments, and Australia has no ban on the importation of primates sourced from the wild for research. 

Lifelong suffering 

Animals used for testing are typically confined to small, barren cages with no enrichment or companionship. Deprived of natural behaviors, they endure chronic stress, extreme physical pain and loneliness. Young primates might be separated from their mothers, others might be tied to restraint devices for invasive procedures, exposed to substances, or put through major surgeries. Many procedures are repeated again and again. At the end of the experiments, most are killed or used in further research. 

A better way forward 

Cutting-edge, animal-free alternatives are changing the future of biomedical research and product safety testing. These innovative methods include: human cells, tissues and organ-on-a-chip technology, 3D bioprinting and robotics, and advanced computer modeling and artificial intelligence. 

Non-animal research methods deliver faster, cheaper, and more accurate results than outdated animal experiments — protecting both human health and animal welfare. 

Our global efforts to end animal testing 

While 45 countries, including Australia, have full or partial bans on cosmetic animal testing, millions of animals continue to suffer in other types of research and testing. 
 
Humane World for Animals is leading efforts worldwide to promote humane research alternatives and eliminate animal testing.