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Elon Musk is facing a US investigation for animal cruelty amid allegations that his brain implant company has unnecessarily killed 1500 animals at a so-called 'Monkey Disneyland'.
Neuralink is creating a brain chip implant designed to help people control computers and prosthetics with their minds. While Musk says he wants to test the chips on people in the next six months, they're still not safe for humans yet.
Instead, the company has been using animal testing to develop the chips, and killed about 1500 animals in the process.
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The animals—including 280 sheep, pigs, and monkeys—have allegedly died in experiments since 2018, according to Reuters and company insiders. However, that number could be higher or lower as Neuralink does not apparently keep tight records on animal testing and deaths.
The high volume of animal deaths has been partly attributed to Musk's intense management style. According to company insiders, he he has reportedly told staff to imagine they have 'bombs strapped to their heads' and to work faster.
Reuters reports that this has led to a series of 'botched' animal experiments where animals have died by mistake.
The company also routinely kills its test animals after experiments are completed in order to cut them open for post-mortem research.
Both current and former staff at the company have said that more animals are dying than necessary.
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Despite the high rate of animal deaths, other employees have said the firm treats its animals better than other research centres.
The monkeys in particular have it good. Company leaders have claimed they have built a 'Monkey Disneyland' where lab animals can roam freely around.
When the company was first started, Musk also said he wanted the monkeys to live in a 'monkey Taj Mahal', according to a former employee. (Note: it is worth remembering that the Taj Mahal is a giant mausoleum housing a tomb.)
Another worker said Musk dislikes testing animals for the research and wants to ensure they're the 'happiest animals'.
Elon Musk did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
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