At least 60 baboons have been exported from Gauteng this year, destined for the Sanofi Medical Research Laboratory in France. According to Dr Pieter Botha, Deputy Director, Species Conservation, for the Department of Environment, the transaction took place with the "personal approval" of Minister of Environment, Dr Pallo Jordan. Dr Jordan's approval disregards the appeal of thousands of South Africans who petitioned him last year to call a halt to the export of primates from South Africa for research purposes. Take action: sign the online petition calling for his resignation.

"Science"... an extract from Scientific American, Feb 1997 "One area of concern...involves paralytic drugs. These agents immobilize an animal for surgery, for six or more hours at a time; anesthesia, however, may wear off in an hour or two. A few researchers are reportedly reluctant to administer additional anesthetics for fear that an overdose could kill the animal before the experiment is over, leading to loss of data. But without such "topping up". the animal could become conscious during the operation and not be able to convey, either by twitch or cry, that it is in agony. And some scientists object to using painkillers because they do not want to introduce a new variable into the experiment."

Psychologist throws light on scientific mindset Dr Ian McCallum, psychologist and psychiatrist, says: "There are three reasons that I can think of why scientists will not openly acknowledge that animals experience emotions in a way similar to ours. One is because they would not get the financial backing from those who sponsor scientific research of this kind; which leads to the second reason which is fear - a fear that anybody should dare talk about animals having emotions and therefore risk being labeled as anthropomorphic, because that would lead to the third and most important consideration of all: such an acknowledgement would demand a moral stand by us. And this would put a rapid end to, or would create a huge challenge to the field of research with animals and particularly to the attitude of the scientific community." Dr McCallum is head of the child, family and adolescent unit at Lentegeur Hospital in the Cape and a famous ex-Springbok rugby player.

Conditions for animal slaves to be "improved" in Western Cape The holding facility for more than 100 baboons at Delft, outside Cape Town, is to be upgraded and is likely to be extended, according to a spokesman for the Medical Research Council. Said the spokesman: "The baboons will be able to touch each other through the cages and they will be able to see something of the outside world. The cages will be bigger so that a full-grown man would be able to stand upright." The facility at Delft is used for quarantine purposes. Wild baboons, usually captured following complaints by farmers, spend six weeks at Delft before being sent to research laboratories. The spokesman said that farmers were paid for their costs in catching the baboons.

"In a generation or so our descendants will look back at vivisectors and wonder not just at the sort of people they were, but at the sort of people we were to let them do what they did." - Dr Vernon Coleman, eminent doctor and author. His advice column on medical issues appears in Personality magazine.

Renewed outrage in the USA A nine-minute video allegedly showing medical technicians yelling at monkeys, throwing some of them into cages and threading tubes down their noses has sparked a renewed outcry by the American public. The video, taken this year by an undercover investigator of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), was allegedly shot inside a contract laboratory conducting tests for the company Procter & Gamble. Reporting on the video, the Cincinnati Enquirer of June 4 1997 states: "Some of PETA's allegations centre on a 13-week test of a nasal decongestant it says was conducted for P & G beginning in January. The testing procedure involved sticking rubber tubes down the primates' noses into their stomachs to pump in large doses of the decongestant...All 48 monkeys used in the tests were eventually killed." The report adds: "At one point on the videotape, a technician cuts open a monkey when the primate moves. The technician remarks: 'This guy could be out a little bit more,' as he continues to slice through its skin." The technician can be seen to be conducting a post mortem on a live monkey. Two Animal Rights groups, In Defense of Animals and Uncaged have launched a global campaign against Procter & Gamble for its alleged cruelty to animals in product testing. For more information, email ida@best.com