Save Me Trust is appalled that a further 19,274 Badgers have been culled in 2017.
The continuation of the Badger cull policy raises concern not only in its operation but also in it projected outcomes. It is clear that Bovine TB remains latent within the cattle herd, undiscovered by the currently licensed tests with the constant potential that infectious cattle will spread the disease to other cows within enclosed areas.
Today’s figures, released by DEFRA, reveal that DEFRA advised Natural England to reduce the min/max numbers of Badgers to be culled in all but one of the new cull zones in 2017. This supports our view that initial estimates of Badger populations within the cull zones are inaccurate and their remains a distinct risk of local extinction due to the government’s continuation of this policy.
We are also concerned that only 74 of 19274 (0.6%), of badgers killed, were observed by Natural England staff being shot in 2017. An appallingly low 0.38% Of those 74, 8 were missed and one was hit but not retrieved. This means, around one in ten of all badgers shot have been missed and around 200 badgers could have been shot and not retrieved were left to die a slow painful death.
We strongly disagree with the Chief Veterinary Officer’s plan to stop real-time monitoring of the Badger culls as the methodology for culling is now, in his opinion, established, deferring the responsibility to Natural England for all future culls. The CVO also recommends that additional culls should be introduced in 2018 and beyond, each with a minimum culling period of four years.
We believe the most revealing part of the Chief Vet’s statement is the insistence that new, tighter, cattle controls are introduced simultaneously with the culls in all areas. We believe it is these regulations alone that will achieve the reduction of Bovine TB and not culling Badgers.
The Badger cull policy is highly emotive and divides farmers and the British public. The best available science does not support culling badgers. We know from our Farm Project that Bovine TB can be removed, even from chronic breakdown herds without killing and Badgers.
We are saddened and extremely disappointed by the figures released today but we will continue to stand up and protect Badgers until this cull policy has been stopped.