Elon Musk's company Neuralink has defended its tests on animals, after admitting to euthanising eight monkeys.
Founded in 2016, Neuralink is a San Fransico-based company owned by Musk and is working to develop a chip that can be implanted in the brain and connected to a computer.
The company came under fire recently after an animal rights group accused Neuralink of subjecting animals to 'extreme suffering'.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) filed a complaint against Neuralink regarding allegations that the company violated laws intended to reduce animal suffering during experiments.
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According to the complaint shared with The New York Post, the activist group claimed that one monkey was missing fingers and toes that were 'possibly from self-mutilation or some other unspecified trauma' and that the monkey was later killed in a 'terminal procedure'.
The PCRM allege that Neuralink has committed nine violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
The activist group also expressed they were 'extremely skeptical' of the human trials the company plans to carry out later this year, before claiming 15 monkeys died during brain chip trials.
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In response to the complaint, Neuralink admitted to euthanising eight animals, but denies claims of 'extreme suffering'.
A blog post regarding the treatment of animals on the Neuralink site states: 'As part of this work, two animals were euthanized at planned end dates to gather important histological data, and six animals were euthanized at the medical advice of the veterinary staff at UC Davis'.
The company also added in defense of its animal studies: 'Currently, all novel medical devices and treatments must be tested in animals before they can be ethically trialed in humans'.
It also stated the studies were conducted in the 'most humane and ethical way possible' and showed pictures of animal living spaces and facilities.
The company added that these areas were overseen by 'a large, dedicated team of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, behaviourists, enrichment technicians, and animal care specialists'.
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'At Neuralink, we are never satisfied with the current standards for animal well being and we will always push ourselves to do more for the animals that are contributing so much to humanity.
'We also look forward to a day where animals are no longer necessary for medical research'.
However, animal trials remain a large part of the company's current research, with job postings on Neuralink's company site suggesting that human trials will begin soon.
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Topics: no-article-matching, Elon Musk, Technology, World News, Animals
Shola Lee