Live pigs tied and shot so British army medics can treat 'realistic' gunshot wounds

The practice, which is illegal in the UK, aims to train British Army medics in treating gunshot wounds.

16:28 18 February 2014

Following the controversial killing of a giraffe at Copenhagen Zoo, another case of ‘animal cruelty’ is taking place in Denmark. There, pigs are being shot to train British Army medics in treating gunshot wounds.

The live animals are shot as they dangle from a wooden frame. Military medics are then tasked to operate on the pig while they are still breathing. Even if the medics are successful in treating the gunshot wounds, the animals are still destroyed.

Animal rights group PETA was furious about the news. Together with other campaigners, they demand that the government put an end to the brutal military courses that are nicknamed Operation Danish Bacon.

Mimi Bekhechi, associate director of animal rights group PETA UK, said: “The overwhelming majority of the UK’s Nato allies do not shoot, stab or dismember animals for their military training exercises.

“The Ministry of Defence’s decision to ship out members of the armed forces for these deadly and cruel exercises in Denmark – which would be illegal if conducted in the UK – is impossible to justify medically, ethically or educationally.”

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the military explained: "Our military surgeons undertake vital training in Denmark where they learn specialist trauma treatment skills that save lives on the battlefield.

“All animals used in medical training are anaesthetised before they are treated and by participating in the Danish-led exercises twice a year rather than conducting our own, we minimise the overall number of animals used.”