1,500 Animals Died Under Elon Musk’s Watch – Now, Neuralink Faces Federal Investigation

Elon Musk's company Neuralink is facing a federal investigation after reports emerged that 1,500 animals died during testing under its watch. The US-based medical company, founded by Musk in 2016, is developing a controversial brain implant with hopes of helping paralyzed individuals walk again and potentially curing blindness and other conditions. However, concerns have been raised about the treatment of animals during testing, with employees alleging rushed procedures and a disregard for animal welfare.

Despite Musk's ambition to see the first human brain implants in 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration must grant permission for human trials based on satisfactory animal testing results. Employees claim they were pressured to conduct testing that led to avoidable deaths, such as fitting pigs with wrong-sized implants and using substances that resulted in monkey fatalities. The US Department of Agriculture's Inspector General has initiated a formal federal investigation that could see Neuralink prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act.