TOTAL ANIMALS USED: 274,985

The total of 274,985 animals used for research, testing and teaching in 2025 is considerably lower than last year. The numbers have not been this low since 2020. Part of this is due to several big projects ending and being reported last year. Therefore, the rolling 3-year average gives a much better picture.

The rolling 3-year average was 397,957, which is still a decrease of 39,120 from the previous average but higher than all others since we have numbers to calculate on (2001).

NUMBER OF ANIMALS WHO DIED: 99,711

A total of 99,711 animals died or were euthanised during or after manipulations (including animals who were killed for the purpose of using their tissues), the majority of which were mice (43,334) and fish (34,302). While this is a decrease from the previous year of over 10,000 animals, several species suffered an increase in death reports, including mice (43,334), fowls/chickens (9,227), cattle (659), other species (509), cephalopods/crustacea (275), other birds (40), dogs (33), and goats (32). Only pigeons, marine mammals, and alpacas/llamas were reported with zero deaths. See a breakdown below.

• Animals who died or were euthanised during or after manipulations: 28,424 (much lower)
• Animals who were killed for their tissues: 71,287 (much higher)

In 2025, an additional 81,332 animals that were bred for research, testing or teaching purposes but not used were killed. These included mostly fish, mice, and rats, but also guinea pigs, rabbits, amphibians, and sheep. This is 58,354 less than the previous year and also below 100,000 for the first time since this number is being recorded.

PURPOSES

Animals were used in the following ways in 2025:

• Basic biological research: 53,557
• Veterinary research: 40,524
• Teaching: 34,524
• Animal husbandry research: 63,689
• Medical research: 17,840
• Testing: 4,307
• Environmental management research: 9,435
• Species conservation: 6,214
• Other: 90
• Production of biological agents: 44,719
• Development of alternatives: 35
• Producing offspring with compromised welfare: 51

Most categories saw a significant decrease, the biggest one being in Species conservation research (which had seen the biggest increase last year). However, Production of biological agents increased over five-fold in use numbers.

TYPES OF ANIMALS

The following categories of animals were used in 2025:

• Alpacas/llamas: 42
• Amphibians: 372
• Birds: 20,145
• Cats: 919
• Cattle: 69,579
• Cephalopods/crustaceans: 1,110
• Deer: 2,001
• Dogs: 1,251
• Fish: 56,506
• Goats: 2,557
• Guinea pigs: 1,410
• Hamsters: 44
• Horses/donkeys: 808
• Marine mammals: 2,015
• Mice: 45,553
• Pigs: 320
• Possums: 1,717
• Rabbits: 1,005
• Rats: 7,060
• Reptiles: 1,176
• Sheep: 58,016
• Misc Species: 1,379

Several species decreased in use, with fish use being the most prominent, closely followed by cattle. Again, these were the species with the biggest increase last year. The use of deer, pigs, cephalopods/crustacea, reptiles, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and rats also decreased, although for some only marginally. However, despite this, the use of sheep, mice, chickens, possums, marine mammals, horses, amphibians, and hamsters and other species increased compared to 2024.

ORGANISATION TYPE

The following types of organisations used animals in 2025:

• Universities: 81,229
• Commercial Organisations: 115,760
• Crown Research Institutes: 37,767
• Other(non-university medical research institutes, zoos/wildlife parks and individuals): 19,647
• Government departments: 8,595
• Polytechnics: 11,453
• Schools: 534

Animal use in universities decreased significantly along with crown research institutes, likely for the same reasons outlined earlier. Use in polytechnics and schools also decreased, while commercial, governmental, and other use increased from last year.

SOURCE

Animals were sourced from the following places in 2025:

• Farms: 119,858
• Breeding Units: 75,886
• Captured: 41,839
• Commercial Sources: 25,654
• Public Sources: 2,780
• Born During Project: 8,754
• Imported: 214

Most used animals were sourced from farms and breeding units in 2025. All categories decreased in numbers, import and public sources only slightly so.

MORE INFO

The most commonly used species in 2025:

Cattle were the most used species in 2025, followed by sheep and fish.

“OTHER” species used

In 2025, 1,379 animals were reported in the “other species” category, which was a considerable increase. This included wallabies (454), bats (369), hedgehogs (282), mustelids (like stoats and weasels; 238), camelids (28), hares (6), and cheetahs (2).

Animals imported into NZ

A total of 214 animals were imported into New Zealand for research, testing and teaching purposes in 2025. These included 212 mice and two "other".

Rehoming

In 2025, 167 animals were rehomed, including 77 mice, 70 fish, 9 rats, 4 reptiles, 4 pigs, 2 rabbits and one dog. This was a slight increase from 2024 (where 141 animals were rehomed).

‍