Monkeys are subjected to medical experiments due to the close resemblance of their brain, reproductive, and immune systems to that of humans. As a result, monkeys endure torture in medical and scientific laboratories when experts need a cure or vaccine for a given condition. These monkeys are forced to stay in labs for an undetermined amount of time where they undergo forced injections and alterations of brain functions. Some of them die in the process, while others may lose specific physiological capabilities. One of the factors that motivate scientists to use monkeys as subjects of their experiments is the notion that monkeys cannot be equated to humans since they lack advanced cognition. The reason for selecting this issue is due to the extensive animal experiments going on in the US despite the relevant authorities’ stance against the use of monkeys in scientific research. Using monkeys as subjects for animal experiments and testing is an unethical act since it encourages and normalizes the trend, supports new methods of torture, and affects the physical and physiological functions of these primates.
The number of monkeys used in scientific research has been on the rise. A study conducted in 2017 showed that scientists prefer monkeys compared to monkeys and dogs when testing vaccines and studying disease (Grimm, 2017). There is a belief that monkeys provide scientists with relevant data. As a result, the federal government up to nearly $100 million to fund monkey brain studies (Gregorian, 2020). Congress approves this budget despite the videos that individuals and organizations like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) posted online, showing the cruelty of these procedures. Besides, scientific researchers have openly admitted the need for monkeys when conducting experiments. They believe that experiments on monkeys are safer compared to humans. Since every living being is perceived as an animal, monkeys are considered vital test subjects since they are close to humans in the taxonomical order. Currently, Tulane National Primate Research Center, located in Covington Louisiana, hosts about 5000 monkeys (Grimm, 2018). Scientists use monkeys as test subjects since they believe that the results obtained can stimulate humans compared to other alternative methods such as Artificial Intelligence. It is disappointing to note how scientists are heavily investing in monkeys as experiment subjects without considering the impact of their actions. Since Congress continues to support these experiments, monkeys will likely continue to serve as tools for creating vaccines and analyzing diseases.
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Furthermore, there are different tests that scientists use when conducting experiments on monkeys. Among the commonly used methods are pharmaceutical tests. They involve inserting scientists inserting gavage tubes in the nostrils or throats of monkeys to pump experimental drugs into their stomachs (“Primate in Laboratories,” 2020). Such tests put the primates’ lives at risk since there is no guaranteed way of predicting how the drug will affect them. Another form of an experiment is the vaccine tests that involve administering infectious diseases to rhesus monkeys to determine the effectiveness of a given drug (“Primate in Laboratories,” 2020). Monkeys living in scientific facilities are forced to live in cages where the experts monitor their behaviors and note any recovery. Apart from medical research, monkeys are also used as subjects for military experiments and training. For example, the US military exposed monkeys to anthrax and bubonic plague (“Primate in Laboratories,” 2020). After studying how they affect monkeys, the researchers then apply them to humans. The Maternal-deprivation experiment is another cruel method that involves separating the baby primates from their mothers (“Primate in Laboratories,” 2020). Admittedly, a separation between the mother and child despite the species affect the development of an animal. Regardless, researchers in the University of Utah, University of California, University of Washington, and the University of San Francisco continue to perform invasive brain experiments that involve drilling holes into the skulls of monkeys and inserting electrodes to study their brain patters (“Primate in Laboratories,” 2020). Such tests violate animal rights laws since they force animals to undergo pain. After experiencing such experiments, animals cannot function well.
These experiments affect the physical and psychological functions of monkeys. Primarily, these primates are denied the joy of interacting with nature, including climbing trees, being with family members, and scampering across fields (“Primate in Laboratories,” 2020). Instead, they are locked in cages that deny them an opportunity to move around and exercise their muscles. At times, they are deprived of environmental stimuli such as light, scent, and color. As a result, the majority of them exhibit abnormal traits due to prolonged physical abuse, social isolation, and psychological stress (“Primate in Laboratories,” 2020). While in these facilities, they are forced to perform repetitive acts such as backflips, and others perform actions such as self-mutilation. They can bite their flesh or tear their hair. Another impact of these experiments is pain and misery. Recently, the National Institute of Mental Health was under scrutiny from animal activists after videos surfaced showing monkey whose brain had been intentionally damaged (Gregorian, 2020). Such an experiment permanently or temporarily affects the cognition of monkeys. In other instances, scientists kill the monkeys to study their brain patterns. Besides, when baby primates are separated from their mothers, they encounter psychological trauma. The ones that undergo vaccine tests are likely to continue living with the diseases injected into their bodies, and others may develop weight loss, breathing complications and neurological disorders (“Primate in Laboratories,” 2020). Since monkeys are bodily functions that are similar to humans, they experience pain and psychological distress when undergoing these experiments. Torturing of monkeys in the US needs to stop since it affects the progress and development of the biosystem.
Moreover, some solutions can serve as alternatives to animal testing. Instead of using monkeys, researchers can use computational models that allow them to collect large amounts of data from online chemical databases, which can be used to compare against different chemical compounds (Bryce, 2019). Besides, it is a reliable method that does not result in the death of an animal. One of the benefits of this method is that it can provide a better prediction of the toxicity of a given compound as opposed to animal testing. Although the use of algorithms is an expensive and time-consuming method, it will significantly reduce the number of animal research in the US. Another alternative is the use of cultured human cells to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine (Bryce, 2019). This method allows scientists to build structures that resemble the functioning of human organs. Thereby, they can study how a disease or vaccine affects the human body without harming anyone in the process. Scientists do not have to investigate the whole body system to determine the impact of a drug. Thus, this process is likely to be useful since it will inform the researchers whether a vaccine will, for example, damage the skin. Another option is the use of human volunteers. Currently, there are steps made towards developing machines that can safely perform experiments on humans (Bryce, 2019). This experiment will involve administering small amounts of a drug to the human subjects so that they do not affect their physiological functions. These alternatives are better than animal testing since they will provide accurate results and benefit humans directly.
I have been actively involved in advocating for animal rights. Recently, I volunteered to work for PETA, which has been instrumental in providing vital insights into the cruel procedures that animals undergo while in scientific laboratories. As a result, I have been writing letters to local news outlets informing them about the facilities that encourage animal testing on monkeys. I have also engaged in microblogging through Twitter, where I publish the updated reports concerning animal cruelty in different parts of the world. While in school, I have managed to recruit four students to be members of PETA. Every week, we print leaflets and brochures, and posters and pin them on notice boards so that other students can read about the negative impacts of animal experiments. I also make monthly donations to PETA to enhance animal rights activism. These efforts have been significant in ensuring that PETA continues to pressurize Congress to put a stop to experiments involving monkeys.
Overall, the animal experiment needs to stop in the US. It results in adverse health outcomes and even death in monkeys. These experiments distort their brains and physiological processes. At times, the monkeys engage in self-harming behaviors. When they continue to stay in the scientific labs, they become disconnected from the world, and as a result, they exhibit feelings of loneliness and despair. Some of them die in the process while others continue living while with excruciating pain. Besides, not all of the results obtained from testing monkeys are approved for public consumption. Scientists continue to kill and torture monkeys whose experiences have no direct benefit to humans. It seems like these scientific experiments are a means to harm the lives of primates for the sake of it. Bodies such as the Congress that are supposed to uphold animal rights continue to fund these experiments. Instead, the federal government should focus on supporting the use of algorithms, cultured human tissue, and machines that can perform safe human research.
References
Bryce, E. (2019, May 4). What are the alternatives to animal testing? Live Science . Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/65401-animal-testing-alternatives.html
Gregorian, D. (2020, March 2). ‘Disturbing’ video: Feds under fire for scaring monkeys, damaging their brains. ABC News . Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/disturbing-video-feds-under-fire-scaring-monkeys-damaging-their-brains-n1137041
Grimm, D. (2018, November 2). Record number of monkeys being used in US research. Science Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/11/record-number-monkeys-being-used-us-research#
Primate in laboratories. (2020, March 5). People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals . Retrieved from https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/primates-laboratories/
