The US military blows up live pigs and rats dressed in bombproof body armor to measure the protection the suit would provide for the troops.
Most of the armor-clad animals died when put in semi-military vehicles which were blown up by the military researchers, the USA Today reported on Monday. The move is in clear violation of Animal rights and Animal Law.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), however, defended the practice saying "if use of animal subjects in testing results in our ability to save lives or prevent injury to our troops, we're confident this is the right thing to do."
The study, which saw the animals being subjected to 200 explosions, reportedly revealed that the shield would not increase the risk of brain injury.
The test was run for an 11-month period and a second round is slated for later this year.
Martin Stephens, vice president for animal research issues at the Humane Society of the United States, however, questioned the relevance of the test saying "people are not pigs."
"Is this the best they can do after several years of losing soldiers to roadside bombs?" he added.
Col. Geoffrey Ling the experiment's supervisor, however, argued that pigs were good subjects as their brains are more similar to human brains than those of rats. Pig hearts and lungs are also similar to humans'.
Animal rights activists slammed the Pentagon over the mistreatment of pigs, while the Pentagon claimed the animals were "treated humanely at all times."
Most of the armor-clad animals died when put in semi-military vehicles which were blown up by the military researchers, the USA Today reported on Monday. The move is in clear violation of Animal rights and Animal Law.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), however, defended the practice saying "if use of animal subjects in testing results in our ability to save lives or prevent injury to our troops, we're confident this is the right thing to do."
The study, which saw the animals being subjected to 200 explosions, reportedly revealed that the shield would not increase the risk of brain injury.
The test was run for an 11-month period and a second round is slated for later this year.
Martin Stephens, vice president for animal research issues at the Humane Society of the United States, however, questioned the relevance of the test saying "people are not pigs."
"Is this the best they can do after several years of losing soldiers to roadside bombs?" he added.
Col. Geoffrey Ling the experiment's supervisor, however, argued that pigs were good subjects as their brains are more similar to human brains than those of rats. Pig hearts and lungs are also similar to humans'.
Animal rights activists slammed the Pentagon over the mistreatment of pigs, while the Pentagon claimed the animals were "treated humanely at all times."
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