Hurrah For The Badgers!

There was good news for those campaigning against the badger cull this week as Gloucester Wildlife Trust published the results of the

This badger is wearing an eye mask as he preferred not to be identified. Image copyright Graham Holden. (photos@gholden.co.uk)

UK’s first badger vaccination trial.

The report concluded the vaccination is both a viable and affordable alternative to the proposed badger cull that has sparked so much controversy across the UK.  Dr. Gordon McGlone OBE, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust said in a press release that:

“Bovine TB is a big problem but local culling of one of our much-loved native animals is not the answer. Scientists have spent that last 12 years investigating whether killing badgers will halt this serious disease in cattle and the answer they are getting is that it could well make the problem worse.”

The vaccination programme will cost land owners approximately £51 per Hectare, which is equal to the estimated cost of culling, but without the negative side effects.  The report also suggests ways of reducing this cost by removing the Certificate of Competence costs.  It also recommends a free bTB vaccine advisory service is set up.

A representative from BAG (Badgers Against Guns) had this to say:

“Whilst this is certainly a positive step we badgers remain sceptical.  The simple fact is that the government has ignored all scientific evidence suggesting that a cull may not be the solution in their apparent enthusiasm for killing things.  Hopefully the fact that this latest evidence has a financial benefit will have more impact on their decision making procedures.”

Badgers certainly are eloquent these days.  Once again we put to our Facebook fans the question; what did they think of badgers – anything more complex than that and they would struggle.  Today’s response comes from Eden Butler, from Virginia, which is somewhere in America apparently.

“Badgers are very dear and clever creatures whose wrongful persecution is a black eye on your otherwise lovely country.  Also, I am given to understand they like pink.”  We heard that somewhere too…

 

You can read the full report here: http://www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/Gwt/Gwt.Nsf/WEBARTICLE?OpenForm&id=3F3713B371EE1AEB80257927002D58FB

And you can like us here: www.facebook.com/newsnibbles – ah you know you do.

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