A student strike and animal-rights activism halted plans by the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) to sacrifice laboratory rabbits for surgical training [1, 2].
The incident highlights a growing conflict between traditional medical education methods and animal ethics, occurring against a backdrop of severe institutional underfunding.
The Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, a division of the IPN in Mexico City, had scheduled the sacrifice of between 20 and 34 rabbits [1, 3]. The administration intended to use the animals for practical surgical courses. However, the plan coincided with a broader student movement that culminated in a strike on Oct. 15, 2024 [2].
Isaac Juan Luna Romero, the director of the school, said there is no material for practices [1]. This lack of resources is attributed to a financial crisis within the institution, which forced the school to rely on animal sacrifice to meet educational requirements [1].
Animal-rights activist Perla Anerol and student protesters opposed the order, arguing against the necessity of the procedure [1]. The student movement was expansive, with reports indicating more than 200,000 young people participated in strikes across more than 40 cities on Oct. 15, 2024 [2].
One spokesperson for the student movement said, "Paramos todo para parar el genocidio" — we stop everything to stop the genocide [2].
While the IPN initially planned to kill 34 rabbits [1], some reports suggest the number of animals awaiting release ranged from 20 to 34 [3]. The student strike effectively blocked the execution of the order, though the school continues to face a lack of surgical materials for its students [1].
“"No hay material para prácticas"”
This confrontation underscores the precarious state of public education funding in Mexico, where budget shortfalls are driving institutions toward controversial cost-cutting measures. By leveraging a mass student strike to protect laboratory animals, the protesters have linked animal rights with systemic institutional failure, signaling a shift in how students may challenge administrative decisions through direct action.
