19 Million Animals Saved?

Approximately 19 million animals are dissected in India each year for educational purposes, but that number might be reduced to zero due to a recent University Grants Commission (UGC) request to phase out their use in favor of educational technology such as CD-ROMs, films, charts and lifelike models.

“By recommending the elimination of animal dissection, Indian’s top university governing body is doing everything possible to ensure that students use the most modern education tools possible, meaning computer models over animals”, said a representative of PETA India. (Source: onegreenplanet.org)

The animal rights organization ran an extensive campaign in India resulting in the UGC’s decision to recommend phasing out the practice of animal dissection. India has over 2.5 million undergraduate and graduate students in the life sciences, who use real animals to study, which is the reason each year the total number used is about 19 million. This huge number was expected to grow because of emerging science fields and more students entering colleges and universities, so it is likely far more than 19 million animals per year would have been used. In just ten years over 200 million animals could have been killed for dissection. Frogs, sharks, salamanders, birds, snakes, turtles, and fish are some of the animals used in dissection that are captured from natural habitats.

Furthermore, discontinuing the use of real animals will save money for the educational institutions, because many have to be purchased year after year. Digital media and reusable learning aids can be purchased once and last multiple years. Additionally, educational technology is a growth industry requiring more multimedia specialists and e-learning designers, so it can support sustainable new jobs and continue improving the virtual learning experience.

Read more: Conscious Consumer, Wildlife

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Mrs N F.

7:22AM PDT on Apr 18, 2013

Hope this may, bring some sense in people!!!!

April 18
send a green star

Waltraud U.

6:39AM PDT on Nov 2, 2012

November 2
send a green star

Terry V.

8:16PM PDT on Nov 1, 2012

thanks

November 1
send a green star

Pamela W.

5:15PM PDT on Nov 1, 2012

Ellen M .... proud of you girl !!!

Good news from India - not sure if it's been "passed" yet but it's a great step in right direction!

Teresa W.

12:22PM PDT on Nov 1, 2012

Thank you. Save the animals!

Heather M.

10:10PM PDT on Oct 31, 2012

My sister was doing a uni course to become a vet and left because she couldn't stand dissecting frogs without even any pain relief. She could have been a good vet and who knows how many others have been lost to the profession for the same reason. All those frogs etc and frogs numbers are way down, they need to be protected. There should be no room for cruelty imposed by a profession that is meant to bringing help to animals.

October 31
send a green star

Jennifer C.

6:29PM PDT on Oct 31, 2012

Thanks.

Eternal G.

5:31PM PST on Dec 19, 2011

Bring it on!

December 19
send a green star

peggy p.

5:51AM PST on Dec 19, 2011

i refused to the frogs back in the day also. so cruel.

Chinmayee J.

1:06AM PST on Dec 17, 2011

Beautiful! I think it's sad that a country known for respecting animal life has taken so long to switch to computer models, but of course money is always an issue...glad that steps are being taken to rectify this!