Elon Musk’s Neuralink, a medical device company, is under federal investigation for potential animal welfare violations amid complaints from internal staff that its test on the animals were rushed, causing unnecessary suffering and death.
Neuralink Corp is developing a brain implant it hopes will help paralyzed people walk again and treat other neurological disorders. The federal investigation, which has not been previously disclosed, was opened in recent months by the inspector general of the United States Department of Agriculture at the request of a federal prosecutor and is focuses on violations of the Animal Welfare Act, which regulates how researchers treat and test certain animals.
In all, Neuralink has reportedly killed around 1,500 animals, including more than 280 sheep, pigs and monkeys, in its experiments since 2018.. According to complaints from some employees, the amount and pace of the trials would have been increased at the insistence of Musk himself.
