Between 2017 and 2020, 23 monkeys in the University of California, Davis lab were implanted with Brain Chips from Elon Musk Neuralink, and at least 15 of them died, according to the US news network KNX NEWS.
According to Business Insider, an animal rights group reviewed more than 700 pages of veterinary records and reports through public records at the University of California, Davis, and found a staggering mortality rate.
The Neuralink chip was first developed in 2016 to treat depression and other mental health issues and help patients recover from brain and spinal cord injuries.
In the long run, this chip is designed with functions that can be connected to the Internet, facilitating the direct transmission of music and communication with the human brain.
Jeremy Beckham, research advocacy director at the Animal Rights Group Doctors' Responsible Medical Committee (PCRM), said: "Almost every monkey implanted with a chip has suffered from physical weakness. It can be said that they mutilated and killed these animals. ”
It is understood that the chips were implanted by drilling holes in the skulls of primates. One of the monkeys reportedly developed a skin infection and had to be euthanized. Another monkey was found to have lost its fingers and toes, "possibly due to self-harm", and also had to be euthanized.
The third monkey began to vomit uncontrollably after the operation and fainted three days later due to "exhaustion". Autopsies revealed that the monkey had suffered cerebral hemorrhage.
On Thursday, PCRM filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture alleging that UC Davis and Neuralink violated nine provisions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.
"These highly invasive implants and associated hardware, which were implanted in the brain after drilling holes in animal skulls, have produced recurrent infections in animals, seriously impairing their health and the integrity of their research," the complaint said.
In response, a UC Davis spokesperson said, "We strive to provide the best possible care for the animals we are responsible for." Animal research is heavily regulated, and UC Davis complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including those of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ”
The spokesperson said the University of California, Davis, has terminated its partnership with Neuralink in 2020. Neuralink has yet to respond.
Musk has previously said he hopes to begin human trials of Neuralink in 2021, but trials have been postponed until this year.