'No preparations' for badger cull
14 Feb 2006 - BBC News
Claims
by wildlife trusts that the government has decided to tackle bovine
tuberculosis with a badger cull have been denied.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust said it feared the government was to defy
its own scientists and implement a "mass eradication" across the
South West.
The trust said a cull would "disregard years of scientific
research".
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said:
"There is no question of preparing for a cull." If culls went ahead, the trust believed ministers could
"disregard years of scientific research into the spread of bovine
tuberculosis [bTB] and cull badgers in an attempt to control the
disease, despite being told that this will not work".
The director of regional programmes for the South West Wildlife
Trusts, Simon Brenman, said: "Our sources tell us there is an awful
lot of preparatory work going on in advance. We are incredulous that it seems against all advice this is what
is going to happen. We think they have made up their mind."
But a spokesman for Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra) said: "There is no question of preparing for a cull
or anything like it.
"The minister has said the consultation is just that and it is
open to everyone.
We will take everyone's view into account very seriously before
making a decision. Even when the consultation is finished, it will take some time
before a decision is implemented."
Cornwall Wildlife Trust director Trevor Edwards said: "The trust
appreciates the impact that bTB has and sympathises with farmers
affected. However, badger culling is clearly not the solution and
could make matters worse."
He added: "The government's own research is telling them that
cattle-to-cattle transmission is the biggest reason for the spread
of bTB and that culling badgers around affected farms does not
reduce the overall incidence of the disease."
The charity said: "It does no one any good if we fly in the face
of science and make a scapegoat of badgers."
Public consultation on the issue is due to end on 10 March. For more information, please click the following link:
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