Every year in Denmark used 6,000 animals in teaching in higher education. But it is not necessary to use animals in laboratories, as there are many alternatives that the students learn the same.

Therefore Animal Protection now have the Education Minister Morten Østergaard to ban the use of animals in teaching.

"In recent years there have been developed a number of alternatives that can replace animal testing. Other countries have in the educational institutions taking these alternative methods of care. We should also do in Denmark. Why should animal suffering, pain and anxiety and then killed, when there are at least as instructive alternatives? "Says veterinarian and project manager for laboratory animals in the Animal Protection Søren Kent Pedersen.

The alternatives to using laboratory animals are many. You can use eg computer simulation, movies, models and naturally dead animals, and it teaches students exactly the same of.

"Animal Protection strongly believe overall that animal testing should only take place if it is strictly necessary. This means that you should only use animals when it is the only way to acquire new knowledge. Otherwise, one must take advantage of the many alternative methods. And it should apply across the board, including in educational institutions ", says Søren Kent Pedersen, explaining that the animal is going on in the classroom, does not contribute new knowledge. "The students can fully acquire the necessary experience through the use of alternative methods and after apprenticeship" principle.

Therefore Animal Protection asked the public for help to rescue the thousands of animals each year are used in teaching. On www.alternativ.dyrenesbeskyttelse.dk can sign on you to support the association's proposal for a ban.

"If the deterioration in education, we would of course not proposing the ban. But we know that there are just as good alternatives that do not expose animals to suffering, anxiety or kill them. Therefore we need a ban, "says Søren Kent Pedersen from Animal Protection.