TOTAL ANIMALS USED: 301,335

A total of 301,335 animals used for research, testing and teaching purposes were reported in 2018, that is 13,236 less than the previous year.

The rolling 3-year average was 289,990 animals, up 25,342 from the previous year.

NUMBER OF ANIMALS WHO DIED: 105,024 (35%)

A total of 105,024 died or were euthanised during, or after, manipulations (including animals who were killed for the purpose of using their tissues). This is 35% of the total number of animals used that year.

A new category of animals was included in the annual animal usage statistics in 2018. Due to the amendment of the definition of manipulation in the Act, animals that were killed for the purpose of using their tissues for research, testing or teaching purposes but did not undergo any prior manipulation were included in the annual statistics. In 2018, 14,308 animals were included in this group.

PURPOSES

Animals were used in the following ways in 2018:

Basic biological research: 91,210
Veterinary research: 63,253
Teaching: 37,096
Animal husbandry research: 12,014
Medical research: 23,125
Testing: 28,049
Environmental management research: 28,309
Species conservation: 7,402
Other: 6,085
Production of biological agents: 4,211
Development of alternatives: 181
Producing offspring with compromised welfare (a new category): 400

TYPES OF ANIMALS

The following categories of animals were used in 2018:

Amphibia: 258
Birds: 8,229
Cats: 701
Cows: 102,520
Cephalopods/crustaceans: 4,349
Deer: 1,968
Dogs: 2,624
Fish: 55,926
Goats: 11,429
Guinea pigs: 2,404
Horses/donkeys: 918
Marine mammals: 1,710
Mice: 47,983
Pigs: 1,479
Possums: 2,030
Rabbits: 1,291
Rats: 22,222
Reptiles: 4,001
Sheep: 29,056
Misc. species: 237

ORGANISATION TYPE

The following types of organisations used animals in 2018:

Universities: 103,786
Commercial organisations: 120,220
Crown Research Institutes: 39,880
Other (non-university medical research institutes, zoos/wildlife parks and individuals): 24,266
Government departments: 3,237
Polytechnics and institutes of technology: 7,812
Schools: 2,134

SOURCE

Animals were sourced from the following places in 2018:

Farms: 111,225
Breeding units: 72,072
Captured: 55,924
Commercial sources: 26,368
Public sources: 19,312
Born during project: 15,990
Imported: 444

More Info

The most commonly used species in 2018

Cows were the most used species in 2018 followed by fish, mice and sheep.

“OTHER” species used

In 2018, 237 animals were reported in the “other species” category. This group was made up of:

African pouched rats: 10
Bats: 44
Chimpanzees: 5
Elephants: 2
Giraffes: 3
llamas: 2
Alpacas: 21
Chinchillas: 2
Ferrets: 32
Hedgehogs: 25
Stoats: 66
Wallabies: 21
Spider monkeys: 4

More info on the use of the non-human primates

Chimpanzees: Blood samples were taken from five chimpanzees held in New Zealand zoos who were being anaesthetised for other purposes. The blood samples were to be used to investigate the effects of the anaesthesia on the physiological homeostasis of the animals.

Spider monkeys: The report only states that these animals were used for basic biological research. We don't currently have any additional information on the use of these animals.

Animals imported into NZ

A total of 444 animals were imported into New Zealand for research, testing and teaching purposes in 2018. These included 428 mice, 10 rats and 6 horses.