Charles River UK

Vegan Activists Rally Against Vivisection: Demanding an End to Animal Testing

Yesterday, a passionate group of vegan activists gathered outside Charles River Laboratories, united in their mission to end vivisection and animal testing. The protest, held in front of the company’s facility, sent a clear message: the use of animals in medical research is unnecessary, cruel, and must stop immediately.

The protestors, supported by activists worldwide, called for a complete ban on the use of animals in medical research, arguing that with today’s technological advancements such as computer modelling, there’s no excuse for continuing this barbaric practice. The rally stood as a powerful testament to the growing movement against animal exploitation in the name of science.

The Reality Behind Charles River Laboratories

While Charles River Laboratories promotes a public image of ethical care for the animals in their facilities, boasting a staff of “over 150 veterinarians and over 10,000 animal care professionals dedicated to the care and well-being of animals,” the truth is far more disturbing.

Every animal at their facility is ultimately subjected to violent, invasive experiments that will lead to unimaginable suffering and, in most cases, death. Despite their claims of care, these animals face a fate sealed by science that disregards their lives entirely.

@PETA has long condemned Charles River, referring to it as the “world’s largest breeder of animals for use in experiments.” According to their reports, the facility holds an appalling number of animals on standby for experiments. This includes:

• 2,471 nonhuman primates
• 214 guinea pigs
• 55 dogs
• 55 pigs
• 53 hamsters
• 39 rabbits

These animals are not pets. They are prisoners, held in sterile cages, awaiting their turn to endure horrific, often deadly experiments for products or medical research. The scale and brutality of this operation cannot be understated.

For further insights into Charles River’s practices, you can read more in this PETA report, which exposes the depths of cruelty these animals face every day.

The Cruel Reality of Animal Testing

Animal testing is often framed as a necessity for scientific progress, yet the evidence suggests otherwise. With modern alternatives such as computer modeling, 3D cell cultures, and human-based research methods, the need to inflict pain on sentient beings becomes less defensible with each passing year.

While companies continue to profit from outdated and inhumane methods, animals suffer needlessly. Some may argue that animal research leads to life-saving medical advancements, but at what cost? Can we truly justify torturing animals when more accurate, ethical, and humane alternatives exist?

Activists at the protest held signs, spoke passionately about the unnecessary suffering, and called for immediate action to end this violent practice. Their message resonated with those passing by, some of whom stopped to learn more and even joined the cause.

Covance: Another Name in the World of Animal Cruelty

Charles River Laboratories is not alone in the cruelty of vivisection. Covance, another major player in the animal testing industry, has also come under fire for similar abuses. In undercover footage that surfaced a few years ago, Covance was exposed for mistreating animals in their labs. The video shows heart breaking scenes of animals enduring fear, pain, and neglect—all in the name of research.

Watch the full video of Covance’s cruelty here, but be warned: the footage is graphic and difficult to watch. It highlights just how far companies are willing to go in the pursuit of profits, even at the cost of animal lives.

The Dark Reality Behind Animal Abduction for Vivisection

Across countries like Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Mauritius, and Vietnam, the capture and breeding of animals for vivisection is a brutal industry fuelled by profit. In these regions, hunters target various species, including primates, snatching them from their natural habitats in cruel, violent ways. Entire families of animals are torn apart—with mothers forcefully separated from their babies, who are then stuffed into bags or cramped cages. Other members of the animal group, or troop, are trapped, injured, or killed in the process.

Many of these animals are immediately shipped to laboratories in the U.S. and other countries, but some are sent to animal breeding farms, essentially factory farms for vivisection. Here, animals are bred in horrific conditions, often forced to endure overcrowded, filthy environments that further damage their physical and mental well-being. Mothers are confined in cages, bred repeatedly without rest, with their offspring facing a grim future of experimentation.

The Harrowing Journey

Once bred or captured, animals are crammed into small wooden crates and shipped across the globe, enduring terrifying flights where they suffer in the dark, wallowing in their own waste. The fear and stress experienced during these long and often traumatic journeys cause immense physical and emotional suffering. In the U.S., the animals are transported to quarantine sites, which can be hundreds of miles away, often by truck on public roads.

The Toll on Their Health

The journey takes a serious toll on these animals, not only mentally but also physically. The extreme stress of confinement, transportation, and neglect weakens their immune systems, leaving them vulnerable to serious illnesses. Health officials are well aware of the risks associated with these practices. According to documents obtained by PETA, imported animals arrive infected with diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, and gastrointestinal viruses. Some diseases are so severe they can cause intense pain, such as diarrhoea so violent that the animal’s intestines shed their lining.

A Risk to Both Animals and Humans

Between 2019 and 2021 alone, hundreds of monkeys and other animals imported into the U.S. were found to be suffering from Ebola-like viruses, gastrointestinal infections, and other dangerous diseases. These diseases can be transmitted to humans, creating a public health risk that cannot be ignored. Despite these alarming facts, the vivisection industry continues to use these animals, subjecting them to more suffering in the name of science.

The abduction and breeding of animals for vivisection is a global issue that goes beyond mere experimentation—it’s a system rooted in exploitation, violence, and disregard for life. As awareness grows, so too must our call for ethical, humane alternatives. The time has come to end these practices once and for all.

The Movement Grows Stronger

The protest outside Charles River was a powerful reminder that the movement against vivisection is growing. More and more people are waking up to the realities of animal exploitation, questioning whether these outdated methods are truly necessary in a world that’s rapidly advancing in technology.

VeganHub stands proudly with the activists who took a stand against this injustice. As more people learn the truth behind vivisection, the pressure on companies like Charles River and Covance will continue to grow. It’s only a matter of time before these cruel practices are banned for good.

A Call for Change

We believe it’s crucial to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves. The animals used in vivisection and testing don’t have a choice, but we do. We can choose to demand change, to push for ethical alternatives, and to stand against the companies that profit from cruelty.

This is not just a battle for animal rights—it’s a fight for a more compassionate, humane world. Every person who joins the movement makes a difference, and together, we can create a future where animals are no longer exploited in the name of science.