Take These 2 Steps to Help Mice And Rats Used in the Forced Swim Test

In the forced swim test, experimenters often dose mice or other small animals with a test substance, put them in sheer-sided containers of water, and watch them paddle furiously in search of an exit, desperately trying to keep their heads above the surface. At some point, they stop swimming and start floating. Experimenters time how long it takes for this to happen on the absurd assumption that this can tell us something about the psychological state of humans with clinical depression.

Mouse clinging to human hand in a forced swim test experiment at Bath University

Mouse stressfully swimming in Bath University forced swim test

The test does nothing more than terrify animals and delay the development of effective new treatments for neurobehavioural conditions such as depression and stress, which are desperately needed.

King’s College London and the University of Adelaide in Australia as well as many major pharmaceutical companies have stopped subjecting animals to the forced swim test. It’s time others followed suit and invested in humane, human-relevant non-animal methods. Tell the University of Bristol, the University of Bath, pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, and pharmaceutical giant Sanofi to make the switch.

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Urge the University of Bristol to Ban Forced Swimming Tests

Take Action Now Urge the University of Bristol to stop tormenting rats and other animals by taking action below. You may use the provided text, but your message will carry more weight if you write your own customised message and subject line. Personalised letters always work best.

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Evelyn Welch
Jack Boyer

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Dear {contact_data~title}{contact_data~lastName}:

I was horrified to learn that the University of Bristol continues to conduct the forced swim test, even after the previous government stated its intention to eliminate the archaic experiment in the UK entirely – and took steps to do so.

No reputable institution should still use this cruel test, which is increasingly being rejected by the scientific community and does a disservice to those suffering from mental health conditions.

In this test, panic is induced in vulnerable small animals, who are forced into inescapable cylinders of water. Terrified of drowning, they try to climb the steep sides of the container and even dive underwater in an attempt to find an escape.

I urge you to reflect the opinion of the public, the scientific community, and the government by dropping the forced swim test at the University of Bristol immediately. Academic institutions must be at the forefront of accelerating the global shift towards efficient, effective animal-free science.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter.

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