Numbers and Facts
Animal experiments (according to §7) 2023 by animal species and number
| Animal Species | Number of animals used in animal experiments | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Mice | 1763 | 98,60 % |
| Killifish | 24 | 1,40 % |
At the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, mainly mice are used for research. Experiments with fruit flies and nematodes are not subject to authorisation under the Animal Welfare Act and are therefore not recorded statistically.
Type of experiments according to severity
Approximately 47% of animals are used for organ removal without treatment or experimental procedures. In the actual animal experiments, most animals experience mild distress (21%) and moderate distress (30%). Only 2.2% of animals used are classified as 'severe'.
The categorisation of the severity of animal experiments was made in accordance with EU Directive 2010/63/EU (https://www.tierversuche-verstehen.de/die-belastung-von-versuchstieren-druck-version/).
The definitions are briefly summarised below:
No restoration of vital functions (organ removal):
Procedures and treatments performed entirely under general anaesthesia and in which the animal does not regain consciousness. This includes animals killed painlessly to obtain cells or tissues for cell culture (no experiments are performed).
Minor:
Interventions and treatments that are likely to cause minor pain, suffering or harm to the animals for a short period of time, and interventions and treatments that do not significantly affect the welfare or general condition of the animals. Typical examples are a single injection or the collection of a small tissue sample for genotyping.
Moderate:
Interventions and treatments in animals that are likely to cause moderate short-term pain, suffering or distress, or prolonged mild pain, suffering or distress, and treatments and interventions that are likely to cause moderate impairment of the welfare or general condition of the animals. Typical examples are simple surgical procedures where the animal emerges from anaesthesia.
Severe:
Interventions and treatments in animals that are likely to cause significant pain, suffering or harm, or prolonged moderate pain, suffering or harm, as well as interventions and treatments that are likely to cause significant impairment of the animal's welfare or general condition.