Animals at U of T
The University of Toronto is committed to transparency in our Animal Care and Use Program. Each year, we report the number of animals involved in approved research and teaching protocols, conducted both in our facilities and in the field, to our provincial and federal regulators. In 2024, a total of 182,913 animals were involved in research and teaching at U of T.
Animal type
Rodents and fish accounted for the vast majority (93% ) of animals used in 2024.
|
Animal type
|
Number
|
Percentage
|
|---|---|---|
|
Rodents
|
109,671
|
60.0%
|
|
Fish
|
60,310
|
33.0%
|
|
Amphibians and reptiles
|
10,865
|
5.9%
|
|
Birds
|
550
|
0.3%
|
|
Other mammals
|
1,517
|
0.8%
|
|
Total
|
182,913
|
100%
|
Purpose of animal use
- The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) divides the purpose for which animals are used into six categories: fundamental research, medical and veterinary research, regulatory testing, development of products, and educational purposes.
- In 2024, the majority (81%) of animals were involved in fundamental research to advance our understanding in fields such as biology, psychology, biochemistry, physiology, or pharmacology. There were no studies for regulatory testing (PAU 3) conducted at U of T.
Category of invasiveness
- The CCAC also classifies animal use into five Categories of Invasiveness (A to E) based on the potential level of pain or distress. Category A includes most work with tissues, eggs, invertebrates, or protozoa and is not subject to annual reporting. Categories B through E cover living vertebrates (and cephalopods) and range from little or no discomfort (B) to severe pain (E).
- At U of T in 2024, 54.5% of animals were in Categories B and C, involving little discomfort, stress, or minor short-term pain. For example, in laboratory species this could involve acceptable methods of euthanasia for tissue harvest, non-recovery surgeries under anesthesia, blood sampling, or administration of substances via approved routes. For wildlife species, it could include observation in the wild and brief restraint for tagging, collecting measurements, or taking blood samples.
Animal facilities at the University of Toronto
The University of Toronto has purpose-built facilities that meet or exceed the strict requirements of the Canadian Council on Animal Care and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. These include specifications related to space requirements, facility security, ventilation, temperature control, lighting, humidity, noise and cleanliness.
U of T provides environments that enable animals to engage in their normal activities. This includes socially housing animals with other compatible animals; providing adequate space to play, rear and climb; providing materials to build nests and shelters; and objects to manipulate and chew. The Local Animal Care Committees are responsible for regularly reviewing and approving all aspects of the environments in which animals are housed or used.