Dear Department of Conservation,

I would like to make a request under the Official Information Act 1982.

Breeding Units
Does your institution maintain a breeding unit to supply animals for research, testing and teaching (RTT)?
If yes, then I would also like answers to the following questions covering the 2018, 2019 years and 2020 to date if possible please:
• What species/type of animals are/were bred?
• What is the status of the animal types bred? (‘status’ is used in the same way as it is on the Animal Manipulation Figures reporting form required to be completed by the Ministry for Primary Industires (MPI))
• How many animals bred in the breeding unit are/were used for RTT and what portion of the total number of animals for each type bred does this represent?
• How many animals of the different types bred are then euthanised so their bodies or body parts can be used in RTT?
• What happens to animals bred and not required for RTT or euthanised for their bodies or body parts to be used in RTT and how many animals of each?
• What happens to animals used for breeding once they are no longer used for breeding from?
If the precise figures are not available then approximations with an estimation of the size of the uncertainty in the numbers would be appreciated.
I would also like copies of any photos or video (digital copies if possible) of the inside of the breeding facilities showing the animal housing taken in the last five years. (please note it is expected that any images that include staff members or students will be edited to remove people).
In addition to this I would like to ask the following:

AEC applications
For the 2018, 2019 years and 2020 year to date I would like the following information for your Animal Ethics Committe (AEC).
If you don’t have your own AEC and you use a parent AEC then please let me know and don’t worry about answering the questions below.
• The number of applications for approval received
• The number of those applications approved as submitted, no changes required
• The number of those applications approved after changes were requested by the AEC and then made
• The number of those applications declined.

Fistulated animals
• Does your institute currently have any fistulated animals on their premises, if so, how many and what species? Please provide photos.
• Has anyone applied to fistulate any animals to your AEC in the past 5 years, if so, can we have copies of the approved AEC applications?
• Are there are projects currently underway involving the fistulation of animals?

Thank you very much for your help.

Yours faithfully,

Annelies Basten