No vivisection please,go virtual,says Rahul Bose

Turning PETA ambassador,actor Rahul Bose on Sunday urged a ban on vivisection in zoology classes in universities and instead encourage virtual dissection programmes and other modern teaching methods. Bose,on behalf of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India,has written to the director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council,H A Ranganath,and the chair of an expert committee established by the University Grants Commission to examine the issue of dissection,stating it is a disservice to university students to demand they use such a cruel and archaic method when studies have shown virtual dissection software provides students with an equivalent or even superior understanding of anatomy and complex biological processes.

Bose states,“Animal dissection is an outmoded approach that does little for students other than desensitise them about animal welfare issues,animals’ ability to feel pain,and their own compassionate feelings”. According to PETA,nearly every published comparative study in science-education literature has concluded that non-animal methods,including computer simulation,interactive CD-ROMs,films,charts and lifelike models,teach anatomy and complex biological processes as well as or better than animal-based lessons. PETA feels dissection sends a dangerous message to students that animals’ lives are unworthy of consideration.

Bose,who has acted in recent films like The Japanese Wife and Shaurya,states that virtual methods are associated with increased learning efficiency and higher examination scores and student confidence. “Research has shown a significant number of students at every educational level is uncomfortable with animal dissection… some even turn away from scientific careers…,” PETA says. The animal welfare body says dissection can put students’ health at risk as formaldehyde,the agent used to preserve animals killed for dissection,is a hazardous chemical that can cause nausea,headache and breathing difficulties. “I urge you and your committee to choose modern alternatives to animal dissection both for the sake of animals and improved education,” Bose concludes in his letter. “He sent the letter to us and we have forwarded it to the director of NAAC,” said Anuradha Srivastava,Vivisection campaign coordinator of PETA.