AIIMS improves animal care facilities
After three years of campaign by animal rights group Peta, Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has made significant improvements in the care and disposal of animals at its facility, an official said on Wednesday.
“The AIIMS is working on building animal-friendly infrastructure. We have replaced smaller, dingier cages with bigger ones. We also have two separate run-in spaces for free movement of animals,” a veterinary officer at the AIIMS said. He also pointed out that three large airy enclosures have been built at the facility to improve the living conditions of monkeys.
“We have also given away six monkeys, which were caged for about 10 years, to Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre for rehabilitation,” he added. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) India had staged a string of protests and agitations for over three years demanding the release of animals kept at the institute’s laboratory.
According to the veterinary official, AIIMS has also introduced a training programme for its technical assistants on animal upkeep and hygiene. Manilal Valliyate, director of veterinary affairs of Peta India, said the group was pleased that their campaign was effective.
“AIIMS’s positive actions are the beginning of a continued effort to improve conditions for these animals who have suffered terribly,” Valliyate said. He added: “Experiments on animals are irrelevant to human health. Scientists from Peta’s US affiliate are ready to help AIIMS on replacing outdated animal tests with effective, non-animal methods just as they have advised a number of American multi-national corporations.” The group had come out with video footages taken inside AIIMS’ central animal facility showing the poor condition of animals kept there.
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