Domestic violence study that strangled rats should not have been approved, animal advocates argue

Research aimed to improve detection of brain injury from intimate partner violence but critics say its non-fatal strangulation of animals was not justified

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Animal welfare experts and advocates have questioned whether an Australian-led study that non-fatally strangled rats as part of research into the impact of intimate partner violence in humans should have been approved.

They argue that, despite gaining necessary ethical approvals, the study's use of animals lacked justification given the potentially severe impacts on the animals, the limited translatability of the science and the availability of alternative, non-animal methods, and are calling for it not to be repeated.