Petition Target: The University of Wisconsin Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Ned H. Kalin, MD., University of Wisconsin Researcher
Goal: Stop cruel science experiment depriving baby monkeys of maternal care and subjecting them to traumatic events
A researcher at the University of Wisconsin is beginning tests on newborn rhesus monkeys to better understand anxiety and depression. The baby monkeys will be removed from their mothers within the first 24 hours of birth and will be isolated for 42 days. Then the monkeys will be subjected to a host of terrifying events. The babies will be deprived of the love, affection, comfort, and security that a mother gives. Instead, they will be frightened with snakes, human intruders, and given the company of a peer only to be isolated again later. These monkeys will also undergo brain scans and have blood drawn all before the 40 monkeys in the study are killed around the age of one.
In 1930, Harry Harlow, a primate researcher founded the first primate lab at the University of Wisconsin. He went on to do groundbreaking work in experimental psychology, but it was only possible as a result of extreme cruelty to the animals under his care. After several decades of research, people began to realize the unnecessary cruelty inflicted on the primates in Harlow's studies and the research lab was shut down.
The lab has again reopened, and Ned H. Kalin is planning to continue the inhumane treatment of primates to further his study of anxiety and depression which builds off of Harlow's work. The approval for this research project was difficult to get and was highly scrutinized. Sadly, Kalin has approval and will be going through with his study. Kalin and the University of Wisconsin need to see a huge resistance to this research project. We need to show them that we do not approve of the torture of animals and that this study should be terminated.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear IACUC and Dr. Kalin,
It will come as no surprise that the current study by Dr. Kalin on newborn rhesus monkeys is controversial. The planned removal of the monkeys from their mothers and subsequent isolation are only the beginning. For more than a year, the baby primates with be subjected to cruel treatment intended to induce panic, fear, anxiety, and depression. At the end of the year, 40 babies will be killed and have their brains cut open for observation.
This study is intended to further advance understanding and treatment of humans with anxiety and depression. While the idea of better serving people that suffer from these disorders is laudable, inhumane and torturous treatment of primates is not the way to advance research. As humans, we may fancy ourselves as being superior to other species, but to purposefully inflict pain and trauma onto another species within our care is abominable. This behavior only demonstrates our inferiority of morality and consciousness.
I strongly appose the research experiment planned by Dr. Kalin. I urge you to terminate this study and find a morally sound alternative.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: The Zookeeper via babyanimalzoo.com
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