Goats have been used over a number of years to analyse the effects of decompression illness in conditions simulating evacuations by submariners from stricken submarines.
The experiments were aimed at determining the limits to which humans might be able to go in evacuating at depth and surviving, either without injury or seriously injured but at least alive.
The idea was that the results would be able to help submariners weigh up the relative risks of staying aboard their vessel or attempting an evacuation.
The decision to stop the experiments did not relate to animal welfare issues, but to the usefulness of the experiments. A review found that no more would be learned from them.
Minister Derek Twigg stated: 'The review concluded that the remaining areas of uncertainty in escape and rescue relate to events that are considered highly unlikely, and do not need to be addressed by animal testing.' |
