Newly-released data from the University of British Columbia shows the institution conducted research involving nearly 212,000 animals in 2010.
University officials say they've put the information online to be more transparent, making the school the first in Canada to publicize such details.
A group called Stop UBC Animal Research, which has held protests over the university's use of animals, says the move is a good first step but UBC must provide far more information.
Rodents, fish, reptiles and amphibians accounted for 97 per cent of the animals used in about 980 research projects, while other mammals and birds made up the other three per cent.
UBC says 68 per cent of the creatures would have felt minor or no discomfort, while 31 animals were given anesthetics for procedures that caused moderate to severe pain.
Vice-president of research John Hepburn says UBC won't release information relating to current projects to protect research that he says benefits society as a whole.