Pareek H, Jain G. RELEVANCE OF ANIMAL DISSECTION IN EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING (WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NATIONWIDE CONTROVERSY ON USE OF ANIMALS). Cibtech Journal of Zoology. 2013 Sep-Dec;2(3):53-55


Abstract

The controversy on use of animals for experimentation is also age old. These days the question which is significant for all zoology people is whether animal dissections should continue in practical exercise or it should be banned and instead use alternatives like computer simulation. Animal activists like PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, India) and others represented to Ministry of Environment and Forest, Govt. of India and UGC (University Grants Commission, New Delhi) to stop the use of all animal types in study and research and alternative methodologies may be adopted for study purposes. University Grants Commission (UGC)-the apex regulatory body for higher education in India-has published official recommendations calling for an end to animal dissection and animal experimentation for university and college zoology and life sciences courses in a phased manner. Another argument is that the subjects like Anatomy cannot be taught merely by doing simulations on computers. Both the arguments are substantial and therefore a balanced approach should be adopted.