Australian regulations - Statistics Australia

Statistics 2012 – Animal Use in Research and Teaching, Australia

These statistics should be used for general purposes only. Queensland, Western Australia, Australian Capital Territory, and Northern Territory figures have not yet been received, but going by an average of figures available from previous years (1,202,343 for QLD, 980,429 for WA, 122,628 for the ACT, and 160,792 in 2009 for the NT), this would bring the total number of animals used to almost 6.5 million.

Figures will be updated as they become available.

2012 Statistics by Species

Type of animals Vic NSW SA Tas Qld ACT WA NT Total
Mouse 586,564 349,193 91,731 4,294 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,031,782
Rat 25,612 21,390 10,721 902 n/a n/a n/a n/a 58,625
Guinea Pig 4,082 2,061 325 n/a n/a n/a n/a 6,468
Rabbit 1,529 1,393 351 n/a n/a n/a n/a 3,273
Other Lab Animals 3,267 10 n/a n/a n/a n/a 3.277
Cat 716 648 42 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,406
Dog 3,884 3,657 509 5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 8,055
Other Domestic 158 94 814 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,066
Sheep 91,083 84,776 2,710 35,206 n/a n/a n/a n/a 213,775
Cattle 14,560 13,579 1,648 442 n/a n/a n/a n/a 30,229
Pig 4,223 23,036 19,092 n/a n/a n/a n/a 46,351
Horse/Donkey 841 14,540 451 n/a n/a n/a n/a 15,832
Other Stock Animals 338 859 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,197
Native Mammals 13,090 1,044,611 9,125 19,191 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,086,017
Exotic ‘feral’ Animals 1875 6,525 2,065 486 n/a n/a n/a n/a 10,951
Primates 235 18 3 n/a n/a n/a n/a 256
Domestic Fowl 59,743 146,994 4,879 n/a n/a n/a n/a 211,616
Other Birds 16,380 136,467 14,754 8,791 n/a n/a n/a n/a 176,392
Reptiles 3,045 13,398 9,760 872 n/a n/a n/a n/a 27,075
Fish 421,291 97,021 n/a n/a n/a n/a 518,312
Amphibians 5,929 87,417 2,393 924 n/a n/a n/a n/a 96,663
Other Aquatic Animals 30,347 386,102 131 23,591 n/a n/a n/a n/a 440,171
Other 18 71 38 n/a n/a n/a n/a 127
TOTALS 1,288,810 2,336,829 268,573  94,704 3,988,916

n/a – Yet to be received

Including 1783 ferrets and 1484 unspecified other lab animals

VIC: Including 76 macaques and 159 marmosets, NSW: Including 8 marmosets, 3 baboons, and 7 unspecified primates

NSW and VIC (Other): Exotic zoo animals

VIC: Including 338 goats, NSW: Including 640 goats and 219 deer

NSW (Other Acquatic Animals): Unspecified

 

2012 Statistics by Project Purpose

Purpose of project Vic NSW SA Tas Qld ACT WA NT Total
Understanding human or animal biology 616,389 882,024 119,251 8,877 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,626,541
Maintenance and improvement of human or animal health and welfare 244,361 286,375 21,086 42,264 n/a n/a n/a n/a 594,086
Improvement of animal management or production 237,362 81,831 29,556 8,900 n/a n/a n/a n/a 357,649
Production of biological products 78,419 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 78,419
Diagnostic procedures 1,994 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,994
Achievement of educational objectives 51,753 40,904 13,409 2,451 n/a n/a n/a n/a 108,517
Environmental study 138,945 813,494 85,295 32,212 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,069,946
Regulatory product testing 60,852 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 60,852
Stock Breeding 75,488 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 75,488
Stock Maintenance 15,448 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 15,448
Unspecified (24) n/a n/a n/a n/a (24)
TOTALS 1,288,810 2,336,829 268,573 94,704 3,988,916

n/a – Yet to be received

 

2012 Statistics by Procedure Severity

Severity of procedure Vic NSW SA Tas Qld ACT WA NT Total
Observational studies involving minor interference 495,499 1,320,108 99,642 36,194 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,951,443
Animal unconscious without recovery 149,219 192,840 32,999 5,973 n/a n/a n/a n/a 381,031
Minor conscious intervention 283,003 477,278 109,104 42,079 n/a n/a n/a n/a 911,464
Minor operative procedures with recovery 69,466 50,552 5,130 3,210 n/a n/a n/a n/a 128,358
Surgery with recovery 109,622 19,514 8,101 90 n/a n/a n/a n/a 137,327
Minor physiological challenge 78,743 60,350 6,596 2,707 n/a n/a n/a n/a 148,396
Major physiological challenge 84,633 54,411 5,246 4,451 n/a n/a n/a n/a 148,741
Death as an end point 18,625 17,445 1,755 n/a n/a n/a n/a 37,825
Production of genetically modified animals 144,331 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 144,331
Unspecified 0 n/a n/a n/a n/a 0
TOTALS 1,288,810 2,336,829 268,573 94,704 3,988,916

n/a – Yet to be received

Sources:

VIC

Department of Primary Industries, Statistics of Animal Use in Research and Teaching Victoria, Report Number 30, 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012. Published 2014.

NSW

Animal Research Review Panel NSW, Annual Report 2012-2013, March 2013.

SA

Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources response to FOI external review received April 2017. It has been acknowledged that the SA statistics are incomplete and that the majority of animals used have not been reported as it is not a legal requirement in South Australia.

TAS

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Animal Research Statistics Tasmania, Annual Report Number 17 (2012), September 2013.

QLD

Yet to be received. Personal correspondence with the Animal Welfare Officer, 12th December 2013. FOI sent 2014.

ACT

On an annual basis, no ACT-wide statistics are compiled. Personal correspondence with ACT Government 12th December 2013.

WA

Statistics yet to be compiled. Data used to collate figures provided by the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) via FOI application, 2014.

NT

Statistics are not yet available. Personal correspondence with Animal Welfare Unit, 12th December 2013. FOI sent 2014.

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