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| UK to end submarine goat tests | UK to end submarine goat tests |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The Ministry of Defence says it will abandon deep-diving experiments which involve inducing decompression sickness in live goats. | The Ministry of Defence says it will abandon deep-diving experiments which involve inducing decompression sickness in live goats. |
| The animals were used to see what the likely risk of "the bends" would be following escape from a submarine at varying depths under water. | The animals were used to see what the likely risk of "the bends" would be following escape from a submarine at varying depths under water. |
| The information would help crews judge whether it would be safer to abandon a stricken vessel or wait to be rescued. | The information would help crews judge whether it would be safer to abandon a stricken vessel or wait to be rescued. |
| More than 400 such experiments have taken place since 2000. | |
| A review found that there would be no further benefits from animal testing. | A review found that there would be no further benefits from animal testing. |
| The "bends" - the often deadly effect of nitrogen bubbles in the bloodstream - is the sickness caused by divers rising to the surface too quickly. | |
| Staff welfare 'paramount' | |
| It can result in a loss of balance and breathing difficulties and, in the most serious cases, paralysis and death. | |
| During the MoD tests, goats were subject to various pressures in a hyperbaric chamber. | |
| The MoD has no immediate need to continue animal testing of this type Des Browne Defence Secretary | |
| Goats were used because their respiratory physiology is said to closely resemble that of humans. | |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne said the MoD owed a duty of care to its submarine staff and "the welfare of its personnel is paramount". | |
| However, the aim of the tests has "now been achieved". | |
| "The review has concluded that the remaining associated areas of uncertainty in submarine escape and rescue relate to events that are considered highly unlikely and do not therefore need to be addressed by means of animal testing," he said. | |
| "The MoD has endorsed these recommendations and as a result, it has no immediate need to continue animal testing of this type." | |
| The MoD said it only conducted animal testing "where absolutely necessary" and all work involving animals is carried out in strict accordance with the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. |