WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- An animal rights group says a recently released U.S. Department of Agriculture report reveals primate experimentation has reached a record 69,990 animals.
The "Stop Animal Exploitation Now" organization said that is equivalent to one monkey or ape being used in experimentation every 7 1/2 minutes.
SAEN Executive Director Michael Budkie said he had also obtained internal documents from dozens of laboratories that, among other things, indicate approximately 77,766 animals experienced unrelieved pain or distress during experiments, including long periods of water deprivation, temperature extremes as high as 131 degrees Fahrenheit and electro-ejaculation.
Among other abuses, Budkie said, was the start of a post mortem on a primate that wasn't yet dead and inadequate veterinary care.
