A routine research-animal transport has sparked debate about animal welfare ethics in science labs after a truck carrying rhesus monkeys overturned in Mississippi last month. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sharply criticized Tulane National Biomedical Research Center, formerly the Tulane National Primate Research Center, after the crash. 

The monkeys in the truck were being transported from the Tulane University-owned facility to an undisclosed location. Tulane did not own the truck transporting the primates. Initial reports of the crash stated that the monkeys were infectious, but Tulane later clarified that they were not. 

PETA said the crash was a predictable outcome of a dangerous and secretive industry. 

PETA condemned what it called the “reckless” silence of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and an alleged lack of transparency from Tulane’s primate research facility in multiple press releases.

According to WLBT — a Mississippi-based news station — the research center has violated several U.S. Department of Agriculture violations since 2014.

Tulane has consistently backed the lab and its achievements, asserting that its research and findings are vital to develop safe and effective therapies for people.

The Tulane National Biomedical Research Center’s work has led to advancements in HIV transmission research and diagnostic testing for Lyme disease. 

“Scientific progress and ethical responsibility must advance together, hand in hand,” Tulane spokesperson Michael Strecker wrote in a statement to The Tulane Hullabaloo. “Nonhuman primates make up less than 0.5% of all animals used in research, and … their use is reserved only for studies where no other model can answer critical questions about human health. Every research protocol must demonstrate clear justification, minimize pain and distress and use the smallest number of animals possible.”

The use of primates in biomedical research is rare and highly regulated. 

According to the research center, ethical oversight is multilayered. The facility operates under the supervision of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which enforces the Animal Welfare Act through unannounced inspections.

“Animal welfare and biosafety are our highest priorities,” Strecker said. “We understand that some advocacy groups fundamentally oppose all animal research. However, our responsibility is to ensure that any research involving animals meets the strictest ethical, scientific, and regulatory standards.”

To PETA, the crash exemplified the dangers of animal experimentation. To Tulane, it was an isolated accident within a tightly controlled, essential field of biomedical research.

“Fully replacing live, whole-organism models is not yet scientifically feasible. Until that day, the Center is committed to treating every animal in its care with dignity, compassion, and respect—while pursuing research that improves and saves lives,” Strecker said. 

“Importing and trucking monkeys around the country for pointless experiments is a public health hazard and a moral disgrace,” PETA concluded in its statement. “It must be stopped immediately.”