A black day for badgers as long-feared cull is confirmed

A virtual elimination of species in specific areas of England

20.07.11

We are devastated that, following years of contentious debate, the government has confirmed that it will go ahead with a badger cull in England.

Plans announced on Tuesday, 19 July - the last day before parliament's summer recess - mean that at least 70 per cent of the badger population in specific areas of the country will be killed as part of a package of measures to try to control bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle.

This is despite scientific studies which have shown that culling would be of little help in reducing the disease in the long term, and could actually make things worse in some areas.
 

We have tirelessly campaigned against a cull of badgers

The RSPCA has long been firmly opposed to proposals for a widespread cull and has battled against various plans put forward, and previously dismissed, by different governments.

We are gravely concerned about the decision made by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

In the weeks leading up to this announcement, new research by the Medical Research Council (MRC) was published which showed that badger culling can more than double the risk of TB infecting cattle.

High-profile voices such as Sir David Attenborough and government adviser Lord John Krebs also added weight to the debate, saying a cull could "make the situation worse" and be "ineffective".

David Bowles, RSPCA director of communications, said:

Today is a black day for badgers - a day we have been dreading.

At a time when the Welsh government has stepped back from a cull, the government in England is slowly shredding its own animal welfare credentials.

 

There are more effective ways to combat bovine TB for good

We agree that action is needed to combat bovine TB in cattle, but we do not think action is synonymous with culling.

We think that the following are more effective ways of dealing with the problem in the long term and eradicating bovine TB in cattle for good:

• vaccination of badgers
   
• increased levels of testing
   
• improved biosecurity and stricter controls on the movement of cattle.

 

The cull 'will wipe out huge numbers of this much-loved species'

Colin Booty, RSPCA senior scientist, said:

The RSPCA is sympathetic to farmers struggling to cope with the effects of this crippling disease and thinks that the problem of bovine TB in cattle needs a sustainable and effective solution.

But this is not such a solution. We believe that the government has taken the wrong fork in the road with this risky policy.

This cull will contribute little or nothing to the long-term goal of eradicating TB nationally.

Instead it will wipe out huge numbers of this much-loved species, including many animals which are healthy.

 

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We are urging you to express your outrage at this decision.

Simply tag and share our online open letter to Defra which is featured on our Facebook page.

Visit: www.facebook.com/RSPCA

 

We can't do it without you - thank you for your continued support
 

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