24 April - World Day for Laboratory Animals Observed at Swasthairya Promoting Compassion and Ethical Awareness
April 24 – World Day for Laboratory Animals Swasthairya
🐾 About the Day
World Day for Laboratory Animals is observed on April 24 to raise awareness about the use of animals in scientific and medical research. It advocates for the ethical treatment of animals in laboratories and promotes the development of alternative testing methods. The day encourages compassion, transparency, and accountability in scientific progress.
History Behind the Day
The day was first marked in 1979 by the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS) in the United Kingdom. April 24 was chosen as it coincides with the birthday of Lord Hugh Dowding, a British air chief marshal and an outspoken opponent of animal experimentation. Since then, animal rights groups worldwide have adopted the date as a focal point for campaigns against inhumane laboratory practices.
Did You Know❓
- More than 100 million animals are used in laboratory experiments globally each year—including mice, rabbits, monkeys, and dogs.
- Many animals used in testing experience pain, isolation, and death.
- The “3Rs” principle—Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement—is a global ethical framework to minimize animal use in experiments.
- India banned animal testing for cosmetics in 2013, becoming one of the first Asian countries to do so.

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