Threats to Researchers Who Use Animals for Testing

The controversy surrounding animal testing is enormous and not surprising, given that it deals with animal life as well as animal pain and suffering. Protests occur quite frequently around the world, particularly in westernised countries. Animal welfare groups usually stand behind these protests, providing anything from educational leaflets and information to encouragement and support for those who convene and protest against the practice.

Understanding the complex arguments on both sides of this contentious issue requires careful consideration of facts and perspectives, which is where our free Balanced Debate Guide.

Excessive Aggression and Force in Animal Testing

Unfortunately, some animal welfare groups - in their overzealous quest to end animal testing - become extremely aggressive in their tactics and actually threaten the researchers who perform animal testing. The threats may involve damage to property, company assets or even threats to clients and affiliates of the organisation performing the animal testing. Finally, threats may occur that hint or clearly show intent to physically harm the researcher. Overall, the threats all have the same aim, which is to let the researchers and organisation know that the group will not tolerate animal testing. It is, however, the use of severe intimidation, illegal activities and bodily harm that have resulted in jail time for numerous animal rights activists.

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Violating Privacy and Threatening Researchers

In an incident only a couple of years ago in 2006, a researcher at the University of California ended up halting his experiments on primates when he received numerous threats from animal rights activists. His personal details such as his phone number and address were reported on the website of the animal welfare group. He also had protests held in the front of his house. In another incident, a bomb that was meant for the researcher was mistakenly placed in front of an elderly woman's house. Ultimately, the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) took responsibility for the attack. The researcher eventually halted the experiments and requested that the group stop disturbing his family.

One other threat that also occurred at the University of California was last year, when an animal welfare group put a bomb underneath a researcher's car. This particular researcher conducted experiments on cats and primates and the group wanted to send a message that they would not tolerate the animal testing. The bomb, however, had a malfunctioning fuse and thus, did not explode.

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Millions of Damages from Animal Rights Activists

Threats to researchers can also result in property damage, usually when the researcher does not initially give in to the demands of the animal rights activists. It is estimated that £150 million in damages to properties has occurred in the previous twenty-five years - all as a result of animal rights activism. In fact, millions more are used to provide surveillance and monitoring each year. Groups such as ALF quite openly promote illegal activism although they claim they do not support violent means of activism. However, their previous history of threats and protests indicate that its members will use violence where they deem it necessary. ALF also claimed that it caused the almost one million dollars of damages to laboratory equipment and buildings in 1999 at a university in the United States. Researchers there were investigating Alzheimer's disease and also developing a vaccine for cancer protection.

Zero Tolerance Policy

Threats to researchers are a reality given the intense passion and debate regarding animal testing. There will likely always be a minority of animal rights activists who believe that they are justified in harming human life for what they believe is the greater good of saving many animals. Most animal welfare supporters protest peacefully although with strong and adamant opinions and beliefs for their quest to end animal testing. Legally, there is no tolerance for threats to a person's life and the intention to harm a researcher. The difficulty, however, can be to actually prove which animal welfare group is responsible. Yet, in some cases, a group will take claim to damages and essentially taunt the legal system because it ultimately means more exposure for the group and more exposure regarding the campaign to end animal testing. For now, most of the public supports regulated animal testing for biomedical purposes and it is hoped that the majority of protests will be peaceful ones that avoid threats and intimidation.

The Next Step

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