Despite the ethical questions raised about Tulane’s animal testing following the escape of 21 of their research monkeys last October, there has been surprisingly little sustained public discussion, giving the impression that it was quietly brushed under the rug.
While the escape posed a major risk to public safety, it also raises questions about Tulane’s animal testing practices and ethical responsibility. From its mission statement to its code of conduct, Tulane consistently emphasizes its commitment to ethics, community responsibility and global leadership.
Monkeys are incredibly complex animals that, like humans, are capable of forming social bonds, feel stress and suffer from isolation and fear. When such intelligent animals are then confined to small cages, exposed to disease and shot and killed with little explanation provided to the public, it fundamentally undermines Tulane’s core values…