Badger Trust 'disappointed' at Welsh badger cull decision

“This has been a sad example of Assembly Members listening more to political clamour than to the science - but we remain committed to finding an acceptable alternative to culling and we are willing to enter into discussions to do so,” trust chairman, David Williams said today (Monday, November 9).

“We must emphasise, though, that we would only tolerate the killing of badgers where it was underpinned by robust scientific evidence proving that it was necessary, was humane in method and would achieve a legitimate aim such as preventing the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

“We do not consider that this test has been satisfied in the current instance.”

He said the trust had also sent a further letter before action to the Welsh Assembly Government as part of the Judicial Review Pre Action Protocol.

In it the trust asks for an answer by November 19 and further action will depend on the response.

Both the Farmers Union of Wales and NFU Cymru, however, have welcomed last week’s Assembly vote as ‘a victory for common sense and democracy’.

The Order gives the Assembly Government the powers to use culling and vaccination of badgers as part of its bovine TB eradication programme.

“Some of those who spoke in support of annulling the Order had clearly failed to understand the scientific evidence on this issue and some AMs even suggested that there was no established link between bTB in cattle and badgers, which goes against the opinion of every single expert on the matter,” said FUW TB spokesman, Brian Walters.

“The chairman of the Assembly’s rural affairs sub committee, Alun Davies, made a crucial point that when you analyse the evidence properly, as his committee has done, it points to infected badgers being largely responsible for the epidemic we are now facing.”

NFU Cymru president, Dai Davies, said the Assembly vote showed overwhelming support for the commitment to eradicate bovine TB in Wales.

“If we are to halt the steady escalation of this pernicious disease, with the ultimate objective of eradication, then in the same way as it would be irresponsible to leave diseased cattle to continue to spread the disease we have also to contain and eradicate TB in the badger population.

“Only then will we be able to fulfil our aspiration of a cattle and wildlife population free of disease and living in harmony.

“The Badger Trust has made it clear all along that it would legally challenge the process and while I am saddened and disappointed it feels the need to seek this recourse, I am unsurprised.”

● Assembly Rural Affairs Minister. Elin Jones, told AMs that last year over 12,000 cattle were culled in Wales because of bTB and nearly £25 million was spent in compensation.

Wales has already slaughtered over 8,000 cattle this year and by 2014, the cost to the taxpayer could be £80 million if action to eradicate TB in cattle is not taken.

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