When Pigs Explode, Activists Go Ballistic

(United Kingdom) Using live pigs, the UK military is conducting explosives experiments simulating terrorists attacks. Some people are outraged.

In total, 18 pigs were wrapped in Kevlar before being blown up, just three yards from an explosive device, at the Government’s secret military research lab at Porton Down in Wiltshire.

The pigs were anaesthetised before the explosions and following the blast were left to bleed, allowing scientists to find out how long it takes for the blood to drain from the body.

The experiments are aimed to help soldiers, medics and emergency services understand how to control haemorrhaging in bomb blast victims.

[As an aside, based on public information, it seems that there is little that is secret about the government's "secret military research lab."

We know the lab location, experiments performed, experiment methodology and the desired results. Don't tell anyone. It's secret.]

In any event, animal rights activists are having cows over the exploding pigs. Me? I think sacrificing pigs in anti-terrorism research with the goal of saving human life is reasonable.