Ética e bem-estar animal: panorama do uso de animais nas Instituições de Ensino Superior do Brasil

Abstract

In recent years the concept of animal welfare and suffering has been widely discussed and Brazilian legislation seeks to promote the humanitarian use of animals. In this sense, the present study aimed to draw a general picture of the animals use in Brazilian universities, and the concern with regard to animal welfare by the individuals responsible for their use and maintenance. For this, a semi-structured questionnaire containing questions about the use of animals in laboratories was sent to students, teachers and laboratory technicians from all over the country. The results showed that although the institutions are mostly in compliance with the CONCEA resolutions, the number of projects that are not analyzed by CEUA prior to its implementation, especially those related to practical classes, is worrying. In addition, although there has been a move towards maintaining ideal conditions of well-being, the lack of investment, especially in the construction and upkeep of animal husbandry, as well as the hiring of specialized staff, creates a bias that prevents national legislation from being completely fulfilled.