So I know I've already posted today but something "came across my desk" (read: I got an email) about supporting Air France who is pretty much the only airline left that will continue to ship non-human primates for biomedical research purposes and if you read this blog you know that there is no way I can resist posting about lab animal medicine, especially if I get all fired up. And I'm fired up.

The reason other airlines won't ship non-human primates is (according to the National Association of Biomedical Research) that animal rights groups have pressured these airlines not to ship these animals.

Um, what? Who says it's okay for any group to dictate an otherwise legal action made by an independent company? Complain about it, sure; the first amendment lets people do much crazier things than just complain about animal research. But to hound these companies just trying to do business and to interfere with the legal, ethical transport of animals for use in research thereby interfering with that research is just...it blows my mind.

Look, I don't want to see any wild animals (non-human primates included) taken from their natural habitat and used for research. I agree that NHP use in research is a tough thing to defend because I'm sure we don't do enough to recreate a naturalistic habitat for them or provide enough enrichment for their incredibly complex behaviors. I wouldn't mind seeing NHP phased out of research entirely, to be quite honest, but I still see the value and need for their continued use at this time. The government agrees and I'm sure the people and animals receiving life-saving treatments developed with NHP agree too.

But the fact of the matter to me is, why are you badgering the airlines about transporting the NHP? Don't you think your time, as an animal rights activist, would be better spent improving your understanding of reserach environments, looking for ways to improve them that don't involve freeing every last mouse and hounding the government to enact changes that would benefit the animals while still allowing research to help humans and other animals? What about hiring scientists to develop more accurate methods of animal replacement models? Because even being as in love with lab animals as I am, I can recognize there are places to improve and I would welcome a decrease in the use of lab animals. But I cannot respect anyone that harasses an airline for transporting animals that are important for continued efforts on behalf of like, the earth, and don't actually take any action to address the root of the problem.

I know that was more of a rant than an eloquent soliloquy but I get so frustrated just thinking about this. Hrmph.