SAO PAULO (AFP) - A Sao Paulo state laboratory which was recently invaded by animal rights activists to free 200 dogs used for drug testing shut down on Wednesday, ending 10 years of research.
The Instituto Royal lab said in a statement that the shutdown resulted from "high and irreparable losses and the damage caused by the October 18 invasion which led to the loss of all the animals and 10 years of research."
On that day, activists stormed the lab in Sao Roque, 60km from Sao Paulo, and freed some 200 Beagle dogs used for drug testing.
Most of the animals had their skins shaven and one was found dead, frozen in liquid nitrogen and with signs of mutilation.
Part of the lab installations were vandalised and a subsequent demonstration outside the lab degenerated into clashes between protesters and police.
The institute stressed that the resulting security crisis had "endangered the physical and moral integrity" of its 85 employees who had to be laid off.
Animal testing for scientific research is legal in Brazil and is regulated in line with international norms.
