The Federal Ministry of Defence anticipates an increase in the number of scientific animal testing conducted by the Bundeswehr (German armed forces). A ministry spokesperson informed dts Nachrichtenagentur on Wednesday that animal testing has long been part of military scientific research within the Bundeswehr. These experiments are designed to ensure the protection and supply necessary for soldiers. The speaker emphasized that all legal requirements concerning animal welfare are strictly observed.
The spokesperson further noted that the numbers for these tests have been declining for several years. However, he added that due to the current threat situation, the growth of the military forces, and the underlying projects driving military scientific research, “we expect, or it is likely, that animal testing will be used more frequently in the coming years than it is currently being used.”
The spokesperson also defended the decision not to disclose these numbers in public detail. He explained that every test is tied to a military scientific research project, stating, “And we report this military scientific research to the Parliament.” Furthermore, he argued that providing only the raw number, without associating it with the animals or the research background, is ultimately meaningless.
