Date: 3/4/2008
UKâs Ministry of Defense has abandoned deep-diving experiments that involve inducing decompression sickness in live goats. The animals were used to see what the risk of âthe bendsâ would be following a submarine escape at varying depths. The information would help crews judge whether it would be safer to abandon a stricken vessel or await rescue. Animal rights campaigners say the move will âend decades of animal sufferingâ. Over 400 experiments have taken place since 2000. Goats were used because their respiratory physiology closely resembles a humansâ. Since March 2007 experts have been examining alternative methods, such as computer-modelling to simulate the effects of the âbendsâ.