Species and numbers used Animal testing on non-human primates

covance primate-testing lab, vienna, virginia, 2004–5

most of nhps used 1 of 3 species of macaques, accounting 79% of primates used in research in uk, , 63% of federally funded research grants projects using primates in u.s. lesser numbers of marmosets, tamarins, spider monkeys, owl monkeys, vervet monkeys, squirrel monkeys, , baboons used in uk , us. while not issuing licenses approving use of great apes, such gorillas, chimpanzees, , orangutans in experimentation, britain has not outlawed practice in u.s., research laboratories employ use of 1,133 chimpanzees of october 2006.

in united states, 65,000 nhps used in 2012,. purpose-bred, while caught in wild. annual figure has held steady since 1973. in 2011 in eu, 0.05% of animals used in animal testing procedures non-human primates. in 2013, 2,202 non-human primates used in uk.

in 1996, british animal procedures committee recommended new measures dealing nhps. use of wild-caught primates banned, except exceptional , specific justification can established ; specific justification must made use of old world primates (but not use of new world primates); approval acquisition of primates overseas conditional upon breeding or supply center being acceptable home office; , each batch of primates acquired overseas must separately authorized.

prevalence

there indications nhp use on rise in countries, in part because biomedical research funds in u.s. have more doubled since 1990s. in 2000, nih published report recommending regional primate research center system renamed national primate research center system , calling increase in number of nhps available researchers, , stated nonhuman primates crucial types of biomedical , behavioral research. assertion has been challenged. in u.s., oregon , california national primate research centers , new iberia research center have expanded facilities.

in 2000 national institutes of health (nih) invited applications establishment of new breeding specific pathogen free colonies; , new breeding colony projected house 3,000 nhps has been set in florida. nih s national center research resources claimed need increase number of breeding colonies in 2004–2008 strategic plan, set database, using information provided through network of national primate research centers, allow researchers locate nhps particular characteristics. china increasing nhp use, , regarded attractive western companies because of low cost of research, relatively lax regulations , increase in animal-rights activism in west.

in 2013, british home office figures show number of primates used in uk @ 2,202, down 39% 3,604 nhps in 1993. on same time period, number of procedures involving nhps fell 35% 4,994 3,236 procedures.

sources

the american society of primatologists writes nhps in laboratories in united states bred domestically. between 12,000–15,000 imported each year, rhesus macaque monkeys, cynomolgus (crab-eating) macaque monkeys, squirrel monkeys, owl monkeys, , baboons. monkeys imported china, mauritius, israel, philippines, , peru.

china exported on 12,000 macaques research in 2001 (4,500 u.s.), self-sustaining purpose-bred colonies. second largest source mauritius, 3,440 purpose-bred cynomolgous macaques exported u.s. in 2001.

in europe, estimated 70% of research primates imported, , rest purpose-bred in europe. around 74% of these imports come china, of rest coming mauritius , israel.