The U.S space agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had recently announced that, it was in the process of carrying out an experiment that would give an insight into the effects of space travel. NASA plans to expose about 18 to 28 squirrel monkeys to low levels of radiation in an effort to determine the effects of prolonged stay of astronauts outside earth’s protective magnetic field.

Though NASA stated that, this project is in the name of ‘science‘, yet, several animal rights groups are infuriated with the idea of ‘radioactive monkeys’. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), which is one of America’s biggest anti-animal testing group has infact initiated a campaign to spread awareness of the dangers that these animals face from the radiation and is urging the public to protest against this inhumane act and for NASA to scrap the project.

According to the organization,

“Radiation experiments involving nonhuman primates commonly involve restraint and other cruel procedures. Monkeys, like other primates, are highly intelligent, have strong family bonds, demonstrate empathy, and, most importantly, suffer.”

The PCRM also asserts on the fact that, along with the strapping of the animals and other cruel methods involved in such tests, there is considerable difference in the genetic make up of a primate and a human. This difference will become a hindrance to the experiment and no conclusive result can be extracted from such an experiment. The international animal rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA has also expressed its concerns towards the proposed NASA experiment and has stated that, even though NASA administration has assured that, the monkeys won’t be unethically treated, the fact remains that, previous such experiments have caused fatal cancers, including brain tumors in primates.

Via The Register.