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October 29, 2007

Say No to Badger Culling in the UK...

Badger, Dachs, Wikipedia Commons

The Senior Science Advisor has backed the culling of badgers in the UK to supposedly control Bovine TB amongst herds. This is despite the results of a 10 year Government funded research programme which has proved inconclusive on the the best method of control, and despite other research that clearly shows that badger culling is not an effective method. There are also a number of other issues with this methodology:

1. There is no conclusive proof that badgers are the original carriers of the disease. Rats also carry Bovine TB.

2. Research has shown that culling of badgers pushes the disease outside the affected area into farms that had previously not suffered any cases.

3. Research has shown that better management of herds has a much greater affect on reducing the disease in comparison to culling of badgers (40% to 19%)

4. There are only 300 000 badgers left in the UK. The return to culling would have a devastating effect on this population.

5. Removal of any indigenous creature that has not outgrown its niche will have a knockon effect on the rest of that niche.

6. UK badgers are different to the continental Eurasian badger in a number of ways. If the UK badger dies out (which reducing its population may well cause in the long term), then we will not be able to 'replace' it.

7. Many scientists think that the endemic nature of Bovine TB is due to the crowded and stressful conditions that cows in the UK are kept in: large herds, kept indoors during Winter, forced lactation for dairy cows. This pysiological stress will have an effect on the immune system, leaving herds susceptible to the disease and providing the conditions for transfer. I would rather pay more for my milk!

If you would like to sign an online petition stating your opposition to the proposed culling, then go to:

Online Petition to Oppose Badger Culling to register your protest.

You can also email the PM directly on this matter:

Email the PM

Posted by scumkitten at October 29, 2007 11:29 AM