Vivisection literally means the 'cutting up' of living animals, but has now become more generally used as the term for all experiments on living animals.
Vivisection is the use of animals in scientific Experiments in order to gain knowledge of pathological or physiological processes. In about 85% of these experiments, no anaesthetic is used and results are believed by most to be inconclusive and of no benefit to Humans.
33 Animals Die in Laboratories around the world every second. In South Africa no legal protection exists for laboratory animals. This means that a laboratory can even use animals that are facing extinction. Even if it meant the destruction of the animal, there is no law that would protect the species.
Given the secret nature of animal experimentation the information that is available is patchy, incomplete and out of date. Two specific issues have emerged as trends: an increase in research on animals for indigenous medicines and HIV/AIDS. There also appears to be continued research involving xenogenics.
www.animalrightsafrica.orgwww.bwcsa.co.za