An estimated 1,000 animal welfare activists converged Saturday on Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin, demanding the release of approximately 2,000 beagles housed at the research facility.

The protesters traveled from across the country to the facility, where the beagles are kept for research purposes. The demonstration represents one of the largest animal welfare actions in the state in recent years.

The scale of the protest underscores growing national tension over the use of beagles in laboratory research. The breed is commonly used in medical and pharmaceutical testing because of its size and temperament.

Ridglan Farms operates as a breeding and research facility. The beagles housed there are used in various research protocols, though the specific studies conducted at the facility were not immediately clear.

The protesters called for the immediate release of all beagles from the facility. No arrests or confrontations were reported as of Saturday evening.

The demonstration comes as animal welfare groups have intensified campaigns against research facilities that house dogs for testing. Similar protests have targeted facilities in other states over the past year.

It remains unclear whether facility operators or state officials have responded to the protesters or whether any negotiations are underway regarding the beagles' status.