Welfare of Animals Used in Education

Animals are used in educational settings from primary schools to universities, raising welfare questions about the necessity of live animal use, enrichment, and alternatives.

Key Facts

UK universities conduct teaching using live animals under Home Office licence
Dissection of frogs and other animals for secondary education has largely been replaced by models
Some universities maintain teaching animals including sheep, cattle, and dogs for clinical training
Invertebrates including locusts and cockroaches are widely used in school biology
The NC3Rs has developed educational resources supporting replacement of live animals
Animal-assisted education programs involving dogs in schools are growing
Zebrafish are increasingly used in university biology as an alternative to mice

Welfare Considerations

Educational animal use spans a wide welfare spectrum. University veterinary clinical training necessarily involves live animals, but the welfare of teaching animals depends critically on enrichment, social housing, and the quality of student-animal interactions under supervision. School invertebrate use raises welfare questions proportionate to the animals' sentience. The replacement of frog dissection with models and virtual alternatives has removed a significant welfare burden without educational loss. The principle of replacement, reduction, and refinement should guide all educational animal use.

What You Can Do

Support educational institutions' transitions to alternatives where evidence supports equal learning
Advocate for NC3Rs resources to be used in schools and universities
Ask universities about the welfare standards for their teaching animals
Support animal-assisted education programs that use fully trained, well-cared-for animals
Engage with debates about the appropriate use of animals in education