Beyond Animal Research

Every animal pictured here lost their life for New Zealand's research, testing and teaching system last year....

Mice, fish, chickens, sheep, rabbits, dogs, cats, horses, octopuses, possums, guinea pigs, deer and more! 💔

Many people are surprised to learn just how many different species are still harmed for science across Aotearoa.

The figures in this image show the 99,711 animals killed during or for research, testing and teaching in 2025.

They do not include a further 81,332 animals that were bred but killed as "excess" before they were ever used.

Together, 181,043 animals lost their lives because of NZ's science system last year.

❤️ Every one of these animals matters.

📢 Please like and share this post so more Kiwis learn that animal experimentation is still happening and that a better future - for animals and science - is possible.

For more info read our latest blog: https://www.beyondanimalresearch.org.nz/post/nz-government-releases-2025-animal-use-statistics

📺 Did you catch BAR on TVNZ Breakfast this morning?

Our Co-Founder, Tara Jackson, joined Breakfast to speak out about the newly released 2025 figures showing how many animals are still being used in research, testing and teaching in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Behind every statistic is a sentient life. That's why BAR exists and is why we continue working every day to transform science and end the harmful use of animals.

If you missed the interview, you can watch it on TVNZ OnDemand - Watch the interview from 56:35 here: https://tvnz.co.nz/player/tvepisode/breakfast-s2026-e112-breakfast

Together, we can build a future where science no longer harms animals! 💕

🎉 More exciting progress for animal-free science in New Zealand!

We're thrilled to welcome a researcher from the University of Auckland to BAR's New Zealand pilot of FRS Pioneer – an animal-free alternative to Foetal Bovine Serum (FBS).

This means researchers from three New Zealand universities are now taking part in the pilot:

🧪 University of Auckland
🧪 University of Otago, Christchurch
🧪 Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Together, they're helping evaluate an animal-free alternative that has the potential to reduce reliance on FBS in New Zealand research.

This is exactly the kind of collaborative progress BAR was created to support – working alongside researchers to accelerate the transition to more ethical, human-relevant science.

A huge thank you to everyone involved. We're looking forward to sharing more updates as the pilot continues! 💕🐮

🚨 Just released: More than 181,000 animals lost their lives through New Zealand's research, testing and teaching system in 2025

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) released New Zealand's latest animal use statistics.

They reveal that 274,985 animals were used for research, testing and teaching in 2025.

⚠️ Of those:
• 99,711 animals were killed during or for scientific use.
• 81,332 animals were bred for research but never used before being killed as "excess" animals.

💔 Together, that's 181,043 animals who ultimately lost their lives because of New Zealand's research, testing and teaching system in 2025.

Many New Zealanders are surprised to learn that animals are still harmed for science here. While the total number of animals reported each year can fluctuate, the latest figures show that harmful animal use remains widespread.

💡 At BAR, we're working alongside scientists to help accelerate the transition to modern, animal-free science.

🔗 Read our full breakdown of the 2025 statistics, what they mean, and why they matter: www.beyondanimalresearch.org.nz/post/nz-government-releases-2025-animal-use-statistics

🐟 When you stand with BAR, you stand with animals like fish.

Did you know that fish are one of the most commonly used animals in research experiments?

In New Zealand alone, 292,348 fish were used in research, testing and teaching in 2024, and 59,418 of them were killed during or after procedures.

It's not just a New Zealand issue. A recent report from Humane World for Animals estimates that around 400,000 fish have already been used in chemical safety testing in the European Union alone, with hundreds of thousands more potentially still to come under current regulations.

Fish, like all animals deserve to be part of the conversation about the future of ethical science.

As animal-free technologies continue to advance, we have an opportunity to replace the harmful use of animals in research while accelerating more ethical, human-relevant science.

Read more: https://www.humaneworld.org/en/news/hundreds-thousands-fish-poisoned-eu

🎉 We're excited to share that BAR Co-Founder Tara Jackson will be speaking at SAFE's Rise for Animals Summit 2026!

Tara's talk, "The Future of Science: Moving Beyond Animal Testing," will explore why animal experimentation continues in Aotearoa New Zealand, the barriers slowing the transition to animal-free science, and how we can accelerate meaningful change for both animals and science.

Drawing on more than a decade of experience working in this field, Tara will discuss the growing movement towards ethical, effective, human-relevant research, and why collaboration with scientists, institutions and decision-makers is essential to creating lasting change.

The Rise for Animals Summit is a unique opportunity to hear from an incredible lineup of speakers, connect with passionate advocates, and leave inspired with new ideas and practical ways to make a difference for animals.

Whether you're already involved in animal advocacy or simply want to learn more, we'd love to see you there!

🎟️ Get your tickets today and be part of the movement for a better future for animals.
🔗https://events.humanitix.com/rise-for-animals-summit

🎉 Something wonderful for animals and science happened this month.

The United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) - the world's largest public funder of biomedical research - announced the creation of a new office dedicated to advancing animal-free science!

The new Office of Research Innovation, Validation and Application (ORIVA) will help develop, validate and scale modern research methods such as:
🔬 Human organoids
🫀 Organ-on-chip technology
💻 Computational models
🤖 Artificial intelligence
🧬 Other human-relevant, animal-free approaches

Why is this such a big deal?
Because when the NIH changes direction, the global scientific community pays attention.

The creation of ORIVA sends a powerful message: animal-free science is no longer a niche idea. It is increasingly becoming a mainstream scientific priority.

These innovative technologies have the potential to improve research by using methods that better reflect human biology, while replacing the harmful use of animals.

Progress like this shows that a future where science advances without harming animals is not only possible - it's already being built.

💕 A win for animals.
💕 A win for science.
💕 A glimpse of what's possible when innovation and compassion move forward together!

Read more: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-launches-new-office-advance-human-based-research-reduce-animal-use

Yesterday was such a special day – it was National Animal Rights Day. 💕🐰

Our Co-Founder, Tara, was honoured to be invited to speak at the Christchurch event and share a message of hope, progress, and collaboration.

As Tara reflected in her speech, none of us can do everything, but together, we can do a remarkable amount. Every person, every action, and every effort contributes something valuable to the bigger picture for animals.

It was inspiring to see so many people from across the animal protection movement come together, united by a shared belief that a better future for animals is possible and that we each have a role to play in creating it. ✨

This weekend, we'll be standing alongside compassionate people from across Ōtautahi to celebrate National Animal Rights Day.

💕Animals are at the heart of everything we do at BAR, and we're excited that our Co-Founder, Tara Jackson, will be speaking at this special event!

Tara will be sharing why working together for animals is so powerful. From each small step away from animal testing to transforming the systems that allow harmful practices to continue in science, meaningful progress happens when we unite behind a common goal.

The future won't change on its own. But together, we can help build one where animals are no longer harmed in the name of science.

We hope to see you there!💕🐰

Event details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/share/18avf9K9Cn/