PETA India Demands Shutdown Of Telangana Animal Testing Lab Over 'Abuse'

PETA India urged the CCSEA to shut down Palamur Biosciences, a Telangana animal testing facility, citing severe animal welfare violations between 2021-2023.

The animal rights group further alleged widespread noncompliance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and CCSEA guidelines.

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Animal rights group PETA India has called on the Centre to permanently shut down a registered animal testing facility in Telangana, citing “chronic and grave violations” of animal welfare laws, officials said on Tuesday. In a letter addressed to Dr Abhijit Mitra, Chairman of the Committee for the Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA), PETA India said it had obtained video footage, photos, and insider testimonies from former employees documenting the alleged abuse at the Mahabubnagar-based facility between 2021 and 2023.

The group urged the CCSEA to revoke the Palamur Biosciences Pvt Ltd registration and rehabilitate all surviving animals.

PTI reached out to Palamur Biosciences Pvt Ltd for a reaction but did not receive a response till the filing of this story.

In the letter, PETA India claimed the company kept nearly 1,500 beagles in a space designed for only 800, bred them far beyond recommended limits, and "failed to provide medical care even in cases of serious injuries and infections”.

The animal rights group further alleged widespread noncompliance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and CCSEA guidelines.

Dogs were allegedly injected with test substances that caused abscesses, ulcers, and severe pain, with many left untreated. “Some dogs vomited large amounts of blood before dying,” the letter said, citing whistleblowers.

It also accused staff of rough handling, including kicking animals and slamming cage doors on their limbs, as seen on CCTV.

The letter also raised serious concerns about the company's treatment of minipigs and monkeys. It alleged that piglets born from an unlicensed minipig breeding were killed using painful intracardiac injections without sedation.

Monkeys reportedly captured illegally from Rajasthan were kept in plastic bags during transport, and two tested positive for monkeypox. Despite the public health risk, the company allegedly proceeded with testing on the remaining animals.

“These actions not only flout Indian animal welfare regulations but also pose biosecurity and ethical risks,” said Dr Anjana Aggarwal, PETA India’s Scientist and Research Policy Advisor, who signed the letter.

“The company’s practices are entirely out of step with global developments, such as the U.S. government’s recent decision to phase out animal testing,” the letter said.

Citing recent announcements by the U.S. FDA and NIH promoting human-relevant alternatives to animal experiments, PETA India urged Indian authorities to take a similar path and start by ensuring the release of all animals from Palamur Biosciences to “loving homes or recognised sanctuaries.” PETA India further offered to work with NGOs to assist with the placement and care of the animals.

The CCSEA operates under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. 

(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)