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Badger cull would pander to farming lobby and solve nothing, say animal activists

TRIBUNE MAGAZINE
3 August 2011 by Marcus Papadopoulos

Animal welfare groups have condemned the Government’s decision to launch a pilot badger-culling scheme in a bid to tackle tuberculosis in cattle – despite the lack of scientific evidence proving that a cull will have the desired effects.

In a move which could result in 35,000 badgers being shot by farmers and landowners, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman announced the scheme in the south west of England next summer as a “managed policy of badger control” to curb the spread of TB.

But animal welfare groups, along with Shadow Environment Secretary Mary Creagh, argue that the cull will result in thousands of badgers being maimed and say the government has failed to present any credible evidence that the cull will reduce TB among cattle.

Suspicion is growing that the Conservative-led coalition has opted for a cull of badgers as a way of “getting back” at the animal welfare lobby for the ban on hunting with dogs and as a way of “cosying up” to farmers and landowners – traditional supporters of the Conservative Party.

Speaking to Tribune, Kate Fowler, head of campaigns at Animal Aid, one of the organisations leading opposition to the cull, highlighted the pain and suffering that shot badgers experience and questioned the motives for the Government’s decision.

She said: “Shooting badgers as they run for their lives can never be humane. Wounded animals experience a terrible and protracted death. Far from being a solution, such a method could make the situation worse, as any infected badgers fleeing the shooting could spread the disease further. This cull is cruel and pointless, and appears to be more about appeasing farmers than about animal protection.”

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