A little clarification
I do understand that dissections are not for everyone but when you have the opportunity to participate in them to the extent I have during my university degree you come to understand how invaluable they are as a learning tool.
I have stated it repeatedly through out the blog and try to put a disclaimer on each set of images but for the most part our specimens are recycled from a previous use.
They are not collected in masses solely for the purpose of dissection, nor do we work on threatened or endangered species EXCEPT in the rare opportunity that a specimen has passed naturally in captivity/washed ashore and is donated to us.
All post experimental animals (particularly the mammals) we use are humanely euthenased as a requirement of the research they are involved in. This allows us to then use them for dissection without killing a whole new set of animals.
Does this mean a lot of our specimens are old, smelly, missing bits and sometimes with badly dehydrated organs from continual refreezing YES IT DOES.
But both myself and the teaching staff I am privileged to learn from feel that this is a far more ethical means of specimen use.
If anyone is particularly offended by my imagery I apologise but I will continue to share as many people are quite interested in this content. I do not take offense to anyone who feels the need to unfollow the blog as a result.
Thanks guys.
Sami
