In order to save human lives and study the effects of being buried in avalanches, researchers buried live pigs in snow while monitoring them as they died. The research was conducted in order to better understand the effects of oxygen deprivation from being buried in the snow as well as study the timescale of death. A total of 29 pigs were part of the two-week study.
Earlier this week, an international group of scientists sedated the animals and then buried them under the snow in the Tyrol region of the Austrian Alps. Some of the pigs were completely buried and suffocated. Other pigs, covered up to their necks, reportedly froze to death.
Scientists from Austria’s Medical University of Innsbruck and Italy’s Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, conducted the controversial avalanche research. Those involved in the study defended their research saying the animals did not experience any unnecessary suffering because they were sedated and given an anesthetic prior to burial. Dr. Hermann Brugger, co-director of the study, told the Associated Press, “We want to save lives, that’s the only goal of this study.”
According to a statement posted on the Medical University’s website on January 15th, since testing can not be conducted on people and because no virtual testbed to stimulate avalanche survival conditions exists, there is no “alternative to animal experiments.”
The Austrian Association of Animal Protection said, “The scientists should bury themselves, and their colleagues can analyze the results.” Following a public outcry, protests from animal rights groups and intense media coverage, the “barbaric” research has been stopped – temporarily.
Pigs photo by George Chriss
It’s a shame the ‘international group of scientists’ couldn’t find anything more useful, and less cruel, to spend their time on.
I hope the scientists findings will save lives; but doubt it will.
Barbaric unnecessry suffering, sedated or not. This should not be tolerated under any circumstances. I agree with the Austrian Assn of Animal Protection, these people ought to be buried and see how long it takes them to suffer and die!! watched with goulish satisfaction by their collegues. This is woefully poor science.
Yelsel. England UK.
Who are the ‘Pig’s here. Cruel, ridiculous experiments exploiting innocent animals. Disgusting!
looks like they called it off: http://digg.com/general_sciences/Bizarre_pig_snow_burial_experiment_called_off
great work spreading the news
I agree with Doggift as usual, but if it’s un-necessary suffering you are into, did you read of what the Egyptian Authorities did with every poor person’s pig(s) when “Swine-flu” caught on last year ?
That’s right, they buried them – alive – in the desert, by the bulldozer bucket-load. Sedated ?! what’s that ?
I’m pretty sure they can still be bacon so I don’t see the big fuss about this.
The Nazis already did this research on people.
I have a good idea, instead of using pigs/animals, try burying some terrorists, they want to die anyway…