The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has signed a contract with animal welfare association Swiss Animal Protection (SAP) to make the handover of the animals official.
Under the terms of the contract, EPFL donates rats that it no longer needs and also takes charge of part of their maintenance during an initial phase of 30 days, according to a statement released by SAP on Monday. For its part, the SAP will be responsible for the acclimatisation of the animals and will work to find long-term guardians.
It is estimated that no more than a few individuals per month will enter the adoption programme initially. However, the numbers could increase if the scheme works well. The scheme could also be extended to other animals, such as mice or zebrafish, provided that they are not genetically modified animals, EPFL said.
Quick learners
Rats are very good at learning new tasks and are mainly used in behavioural experiments. In 2020, they accounted for 9.5% of the animals used in experiments in Switzerland, behind mice and birds. EPFL currently has some 350 rats in its labs.
A similar programme was launched in 2018 in partnership with the University of Zurich. It enabled some 300 rats that had not been genetically modified or used in stressful experiments to find new owners.
Swiss authorities announce cost-cutting in asylum sector
This content was published on
The government notably wants to improve integration into the labour force, particularly for people with protection status S.
Various leaders confirm participation at Ukraine peace conference
This content was published on
The presidents of Poland, Finland, and Latvia and the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium will be at the Swiss-hosted talks in mid-June.
This content was published on
In the winter season up to April 2024, railway and cable car operators ferried 3% more visitors compared to the previous winter, and 5% more than the five-year average.
Rhine flooding: Swiss to invest CHF1 billion with Austria
This content was published on
As part of an international agreement with Austria, the Swiss government wants to pump CHF1 billion ($1.1 billion) into flood protection measures along the Rhine over the next three decades.
Swiss government proposes CHF10 million UNRWA donation
This content was published on
After months of debate, Switzerland plans to give CHF10 million ($11 million) to the UN agency this year, rather than the CHF20 million initially foreseen.
Swiss study: insects mainly migrate at midday and dusk
This content was published on
A study led by the Swiss Ornithological Institute in canton Lucerne is helping to better understand the movement patterns of migratory insects.
Red Cross: 22 staff killed in Middle East since October
This content was published on
The Red Cross and Red Crescent network in Gaza and Israel has lost 22 staff members since last October, the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) said on Wednesday.
Dortmund’s Kobel is first Swiss goalie in Champions League final
This content was published on
Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel has achieved history by becoming the first Swiss goalkeeper to reach a Champion’s League final.
University students in Switzerland join Gaza protest wave
This content was published on
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied university buildings in Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich on Tuesday, widening the protest movement in the Alpine nation.
This content was published on
In Switzerland there are alternatives to animal experimentation, yet they have been slow to win the acceptance of researchers.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.