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Urge the University of Bristol to Ban Forced Swimming Tests

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The University of Bristol in the U.K. is insisting on pursuing cruel and widely criticized forced swimming tests using rats.

University experimenters place small animals in sheer-sided containers of water and watch them paddle furiously in search of an exit, desperately trying to keep their heads above water, terrified of drowning.

The test torments animals and delays the development of effective new treatments for human mental health conditions, which are desperately needed.

In March 2024, the U.K. government announced his intention to eliminate the use of the forced swim test in the country. Despite this, the University of Bristol refuses to implement a ban.

Several universities and many major pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Bristol Myers Squibb, have stopped subjecting animals to these cruel near-drowning tests. It’s high time the University of Bristol followed suit by ending the test and investing in humane, human-relevant, non-animal methods.

Urge the University of Bristol to stop tormenting rats and other animals by taking action below.

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Jack

Boyer

University of Bristol

Evelyn

Welch

University of Bristol

Message to {contact_data~firstName} {contact_data~lastName}:

I was disappointed to learn that the University of Bristol is yet to ban the forced swim test, even though a freedom of information request revealed that rats and mice haven’t been tormented in this cruel near-drowning experiment at the institution for over a year. The test is unnecessary, and the university could easily end its use permanently.

The previous government stated its intention to completely eliminate the archaic experiment in the U.K.—and it already took the first steps toward achieving this. No reputable institution should still be using this cruel test, which is increasingly being rejected by the scientific community and does a disservice to those suffering from mental health conditions.

In this test, experimenters induce panic in small, vulnerable animals, who are forced into inescapable cylinders of water. Terrified of drowning, they try to climb the steep sides of the container and even dive underwater in an attempt to find an escape.

I urge you to reflect the opinion of the public, the scientific community, and the U.K. government by dropping the forced swim test at the University of Bristol immediately. Academic institutions must be at the forefront of accelerating the global shift toward efficient, effective animal-free science.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,
{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}
{user_data~EMail Address}

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