Goats killed by MoD scientists in tests on submarines

Published on Friday 3 November 2006 00:07

BRITISH military scientists routinely subject goats to severe pain and fatal injury as part of their research on navy submarines, the government has admitted.

Adam Ingram, the armed forces minister, confirmed in parliament that live goats were placed in chambers which were then depressurised to simulate an emergency aboard a submarine.

Depressurisation has a range of effects on the goats, including suddenly rupturing their lungs.

Ministry of Defence scientists use goats in the test because, they say, their reactions are similar to those of humans.

Mr Ingram said the MoD's "duty of care to submariners during both normal operations and in an emergency" justifies "continued investigation into sequential improvements in escape and rescue procedures and ... experiments on large animals".

Animal rights groups condemned the practice. Ross Minnett, of Advocates for Animals, an Edinburgh-based anti-vivisection group, said: "Animals don't wage wars, so why should they be made to suffer because humans do?"