The University of Reading has been slammed by campaigners for leading to the death of thousands of animals as part of research it conducts.

Campaigners from the Vegan Action for Animals group staged a protest at the university last Sunday (April 24) as part of World Day for Animals in Laboratories.

The campaigners set up a makeshift tombstone for the alleged 26,557 animals used in research at the university, and a protester in a lab coat conducted a mock vivisection, a surgical procedure where an animal is experimented upon while it is still alive.

On its website, the university admits to using between 2000 to 4000 animals annually, with around 90 per cent of animals used being mice or rats.

Other animals that are used in experiments include rabbits, cows and sheep.

You can see the statistics here.

In a post on Facebook, the group claimed that one of the current experiments it is conducting is using up to 6,500 animals per year.

A campaigner said: “Animal experimentation and vivisection is not only unspeakably cruel, it is also bad science.

“We call on the University of Reading and every other institution still subjecting animals to experiments to adopt the humane and more accurate research methods of the future.

“As we all know when it comes to vivisection: #ItsNotScienceItsViolence and we will never be silent until every animal is free.”

You can see the post in full here: https://www.facebook.com/veganactionforanimalsuk/posts/3086123618271278

A spokesperson for the university defended its use of animals for research.

The spokesperson said: “The role of animals in research is an important part of some of our scientific research, which plays a key role in our contribution to society.

“Without well-conducted, ethically monitored science involving animals, there would be no vaccines for COVID-19, no treatment for cancers, no insulin, or almost any form of modern medicine.

“Recent research using animals at Reading has led to the development of life-changing treatments for children with epilepsy now available on the NHS. It has led to the creation of vaccines to prevent bovine TB, and fundamental discoveries into the causes of dementia and heart disease.

“We are committed to the very highest standards of humane treatment of animals including the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement of all our research involving animals.

“The University is a signatory of the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research, and has won several awards for its work to communicate and explain to the public why animals are needed in research.

“We openly provide and publicise detailed information on the exact numbers and severity of procedures carried out each year, and the types of animals used.”