Experimenting on Animals: Inside The Monkey Lab

Summary

Vice News explores the controversial Biomedical Primate Research Center (BPRC), Europe's largest facility for testing deadly infections on live monkeys. Despite being a progressive center for animal welfare, it faces ongoing protests from animal rights activists. The center's breeding program mimics wild group dynamics, with only 10% of animals used for experiments annually. Staff members, though conflicted, defend the necessity of such research for developing life-saving treatments.

Takeaways

• 🏥 The Biomedical Primate Research Center (BPRC) is a non-profit science laboratory in Europe that tests deadly infections and diseases on live monkeys.
• 🐒 The BPRC is home to around 1600 monkeys, including 1200 Rhesus macaques, 150 long-tail macaques, and 200-250 common macaques.
• 🛡️ The center is known for its progressive approach to housing and caring for monkeys, which is considered one of the most forward-thinking in Europe.
• 🔬 Animal testing at the BPRC has contributed to breakthroughs such as the polio vaccine and treatments for HIV and AIDS.
• 🚫 Despite its progressive reputation, the BPRC is a target for animal rights activists who have been protesting outside for 20 years.
• 👥 Vice News was granted rare access to the facility to explore the compatibility of monkey testing and animal welfare.
• 🌳 The BPRC has breeding groups designed to mimic natural social structures in the wild, with young males leaving their natal groups to prevent inbreeding.
• 🔢 Only about 10% of the monkeys at the BPRC are used in experiments each year, maintaining the balance of the social groups.
• 🤔 The script raises questions about the necessity of using live monkeys for developing life-saving drugs and the treatment of the animals involved.
• 👩‍🔬 Staff at the BPRC acknowledge the difficulty of seeing animals being tested but believe in the importance of their work for medical advancements.
• 🌐 The protesters refer to the facility as the 'monkey hell of Rijswijk,' a term the facility's officials do not agree with.

Q & A

What is the name of the facility mentioned in the script?

The facility is called the Biomedical Primate Research Center (BPRC).

What type of work does the Biomedical Primate Research Center engage in?

The BPRC tests some of the world's most deadly infections and diseases on live monkeys.

Why is the BPRC considered one of the most forward-thinking and progressive research centers?

It is considered forward-thinking and progressive because of its focus on housing and caring for its monkeys, as well as its efforts to make monkey testing and animal welfare compatible.

How long have animal rights activists been protesting outside the BPRC?

Animal rights activists have been protesting outside the center for the last 20 years.

What breakthroughs have been attributed to testing on non-human primates?

Breakthroughs such as the polio vaccine and treatments against HIV and AIDS have been attributed to testing on non-human primates.

How many different types of macaques does the BPRC have in its breeding facility?

The BPRC has 1200 Rhesus macaques, around 150 long-tail macaques, and 200-250 common macaques.

What percentage of the animals at the BPRC are involved in experiments each year?

On average, only 10% of the animals at the BPRC move into experiments per year.

How does the BPRC maintain the structure and balance of the monkey groups?

The BPRC creates breeding groups that resemble those in the wild, with young males leaving their natal group at about 4-5 years of age to prevent in-breeding.

What is the protesters' nickname for the BPRC's breeding facility?

The protesters call the breeding facility 'the monkey hell of Rijswijk'.

What does the BPRC staff member in the script believe about the necessity of using monkeys for research?

The staff member believes that using monkeys for research is necessary for developing life-saving drugs and feels that what they do is the right thing.

How does the BPRC staff member reconcile the emotional difficulty of seeing monkeys being tested on?

The staff member reconciles this by understanding the purpose of the research and believing in the importance of the work they are doing.