Moscow State Agricultural Academy has announced that it will stop experimenting on animals for educational purposes. Instead, students will learn about animal biology using videos and computer software provided by British not-for-profit org, InterNICHE - the International Network for Humane Education.
As we reported last month, students at Moscow State University Faculty of Biology are having a difficult time in their quest for a humane education, and extreme animal suffering for education is still commonplace at most Russian colleges. At the Moscow State Agricultural Academy, however, staff are more forward thinking.
"Computer programs and videos of professionally carried-out experiments on different animal species will help us avoid problems with students who refuse to experiment on animals for ethical reasons," said Tatiana Blokhin, a representative of the academy.
Whilst the students' ethical concerns may have been a factor, the main consideration behind the move seems to be more practical and financial. Resources such as mannequins and videos engage students more easily than the often unpleasant experience of causing suffering to live animals. They are also cheaper as they do not need housing and feeding and can be reused, whereas new animals are required for each vivisection experiment.
There is still a long way to go to help Russian students achieve a top quality humane education, but the combined efforts of InterNICHE and concerned students and staff are beginning to make a real difference.
If you are studying any of the biological or health sciences and are concerned that your course includes harmful animal use, contact InterNICHE at for advice on the many superior humane alternatives you could ask your tutors to use instead.