Camp Beagle is a protest camp set up in July 2021 by animal rights activists outside of MBR Acres, a breeding facility for beagles used in laboratory research, in

Wyton, Cambridgeshire Wyton is a village in Cambridgeshire, England. It lies approximately east of Huntingdon. Wyton is connected to the village of Houghton, so much so that the two settlements are rarely regarded as separate. Wyton is in the civil parish of ''Hough ...

. The protestors want the site to be closed down, the beagles freed and for vivisection in the United Kingdom to be ended.

Background

MBR Acres is owned by the American company Marshall BioResources (MBR). Up to 2,000 beagles are bred at the facility each year; they are sold at the age of around 16 weeks to be used for drugs and chemical testing. Since 2020, protests have been held around the facility, led by groups such as Camp Beagle UK and Free the MBR Beagles.

History

The camp was first set up in July 2021; footage of dogs from the facility published by the '' Daily Mirror'' led to increased support of the campaign. The protestors argue that the facility is

factory farming Intensive animal farming or industrial livestock production, also known by its opponents as factory farming and macro-farms, is a type of intensive agriculture, specifically an approach to animal husbandry designed to maximize production, while ...

beagles; MBR has issued a statement asserting that the protestors are misinformed and that breeding of animals is essential for medical research. The statement also contends that the facility is both regulated and frequently inspected by the Home Office which enforces strict laws around animal welfare in research facilities. Actors

Ricky Gervais Ricky Dene Gervais ( ; born 25 June 1961) is an English comedian, actor, writer, and director. He co-created, co-wrote, and acted in the British television sitcoms ''The Office'' (2001–2003), '' Extras'' (2005–2007), and '' An Idiot Abroad' ...

and Peter Egan have voiced their support for the facility to be closed down. In August 2021 ''The Times'' Newspaper published a letter signed by in support of MBR Acres and its contribution to medical research nineteen scientific societies and organizations. On 28 August, Camp Beagle coordinated a protest with Animal Rebellion at

Smithfield Market Smithfield, properly known as West Smithfield, is a district located in Central London, part of Farringdon Without, the most westerly ward of the City of London, England. Smithfield is home to a number of City institutions, such as St Bartho ...

in London. 15 activists were arrested on 31 August for "suspected obstruction of the highway or of criminal damage." Following a High Court injunction hearing instigated by MBR Acres, it was ruled, on 5 October, that the camp was allowed to remain, with the provision that activists must remain at least 10 metres from the gates. A Freedom of Information Request revealed that Cambridge Constabulary spent from 27 June to 14 September on policing the camp. In November 2021, the singer Will Young handcuffed himself to the gates of the facility. In December 2022, activists from Animal Rebellion freed 18 beagles from the facility.

References

{{Animal testing navbox 2021 protests 2022 protests Animal rights protests Animal testing in the United Kingdom Animal welfare and rights in the United Kingdom Anti-vivisection movement Dog breeding Dogs in the United Kingdom Protest camps Protests in England

Background

History

See also

References