Protests halt avalanche study that buried pigs alive

[Nagishkaw 510]

An experiment in which anesthetized pigs were buried alive in snow to learn how humans live or die in avalanches was halted today in Austria after animal-rights groups denounced the research as cruel and useless.

The two-week experiment involving 29 pigs began Tuesday in the Western Austrian Alps. Some animals were being buried completely and suffocated, while others were covered up to their necks to freeze to death.

"It is absolutely unacceptable to kill these highly sensitive, helpless animals for such a useless experiment," said Johanna Stadler, director of Vier Pfoten (Four Paws).

"People are shocked and outraged that such cruel experiments can even be carried out in Austria," said Gerda Matias, president of the International Union of Animal Experiment Opponents.

The scientists — from the Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine in Bolzano, Italy, and the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria — defended their research, saying it was ethical and would help save human lives. They said that because the animals were sedated and anesthetized they did not suffer.

"We want to save lives, that's the only goal of this study," Hermann Brugger, co-director of the study, told Austrian broadcaster ORF. He later told the Associated Press that the research could help humans survive avalanches and that if the study is halted permanently, pigs already dead would have died in vain.

Animal advocates disputed the value of such research.

The Austrian Association of Animal Protection said no person would be saved by the study. The group proposed alternative research.

"The scientists should bury themselves, and their colleagues can then analyze the results," the group said in a statement.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/on...ed-pigs-alive/1

[mawilson 2,133]

[Nagishkaw 510]

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

silly austrians - pigs are for bacon, not protests

Edited January 15, 2010 by charles!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

silly austrians - pigs are for bacon, not protests

I thought global warming melted all the snow in Austria.