15 of Neuralink’s 23 guinea pig monkeys died after being implanted

In an article relayed by the New York Postthe Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicinean animal rights group that consulted more than 700 pages of Neuralink documents, reveals that at least 15 of the company’s 23 guinea pig monkeys died between 2017 and 2020 after being implanted.

The animal rights association has filed a complaint against Elon Musk’s company. the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine accuses Neuralink of subjecting dozens of monkeys to a “extreme suffering” for several years, carrying out macabre experiments. 70% of Neuralink’s monkeys would have died after being implanted. While we rejoiced in the exploits of Pager, this 9-year-old macaque capable of playing the game of Pong with his mind, other monkeys had already surely died, bearing the brunt of Neuralink’s experiments.

Neuralink brain chips were implanted into the brains of at least 23 monkeys in a series of tests conducted at the University of California, Davis, between 2017 and 2020. Beyond the animal death count because of the company’s experiences, the advocacy group points out the bad conditions in which they were. In one example cited, a monkey was found to have had its fingers and toes amputated “probably as a result of self-harm or other trauma”. The monkey was later euthanized.

In another case, a monkey developed a skin infection after having his skull pierced to insert an implant in his brain. He was also euthanized. In a third case cited by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicinea macaque would have been seized with vomiting, nausea and choking as a result of electrodes implanted in his brain. A few days later, the researchers wrote in internal memos that “the animal appeared to be collapsing from exhaustion or fatigue”, so he too was euthanized. According to the report, an autopsy then showed that the monkey had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage.

Neuralink ensures compliance with the legislation in force

Faced with these accusations, Neuralink declares in a Press release that researchers at the University of Davis have “complied with applicable federal laws”. The American company specifies that the legislation obliges scientists to test all new medical devices on animals before being tested on humans, “a rule to which Neuralink does not escape”.

Neuralink ensures that “several monkeys have arrived in the terminal phase”. They were about to be euthanized. This is generally the case for guinea pigs. Finally, the spokesperson assures that Neuralink researchers are fully prepared to “working with animals in the most humane and ethical way possible”. The company even released photos to show the conditions the animals are in.

Photography: Neuralink