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19/01/2012
Badger Culling Begins In August
The culling of Britain's badgers is to begin in August, while the initial pilot areas have been identified, according to reports on Thursday.
Although the exact areas of the initial culls have not been identified for security reasons, landowners and farmers from two carefully-selected areas were now able to apply for licences to cull the animals in August.
The pilot measures are designed to tackle the impact of bovine TB, Agriculture Minister Jim Paice said.
According to the Department of Food and Rural Affairs, the disease forced the slaughter of 25,000 cattle in 2010 and will cost taxpayers around £1 billion over the next ten years if not effectively dealt with.
Two areas in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset have been selected, from a shortlist proposed by the farming industry, as the most suitable to pilot controlled shooting of badgers.
Jim Paice said: “Bovine TB is a chronic and devastating disease. It causes the slaughter of tens of thousands of cattle each year, and is taking a terrible toll on our farmers and rural communities.
“Nobody wants to cull badgers. But no country in the world where wildlife carries TB has eradicated the disease in cattle without tackling it in wildlife too."
However, the plan has been met with opposition, with campaign group 38 Degrees launching a petition to stop the badger cull.
A spokesperson for the group said: :The Government has decided to proceed with two pilot culls of badgers in the Autumn of 2012, see our Press Release dated 14th December 2011.
"Our badgers need your help more than ever before. The 38 Degrees petition against the culling of badgers currently has 42,514 votes as at 19th January 2012. If you care about badgers please add your name to the petition. If you can also spare the time to ask your friends and colleagues to do the same, it will be very much appreciated.
(DW)
Although the exact areas of the initial culls have not been identified for security reasons, landowners and farmers from two carefully-selected areas were now able to apply for licences to cull the animals in August.
The pilot measures are designed to tackle the impact of bovine TB, Agriculture Minister Jim Paice said.
According to the Department of Food and Rural Affairs, the disease forced the slaughter of 25,000 cattle in 2010 and will cost taxpayers around £1 billion over the next ten years if not effectively dealt with.
Two areas in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset have been selected, from a shortlist proposed by the farming industry, as the most suitable to pilot controlled shooting of badgers.
Jim Paice said: “Bovine TB is a chronic and devastating disease. It causes the slaughter of tens of thousands of cattle each year, and is taking a terrible toll on our farmers and rural communities.
“Nobody wants to cull badgers. But no country in the world where wildlife carries TB has eradicated the disease in cattle without tackling it in wildlife too."
However, the plan has been met with opposition, with campaign group 38 Degrees launching a petition to stop the badger cull.
A spokesperson for the group said: :The Government has decided to proceed with two pilot culls of badgers in the Autumn of 2012, see our Press Release dated 14th December 2011.
"Our badgers need your help more than ever before. The 38 Degrees petition against the culling of badgers currently has 42,514 votes as at 19th January 2012. If you care about badgers please add your name to the petition. If you can also spare the time to ask your friends and colleagues to do the same, it will be very much appreciated.
(DW)
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15 December 2005
New measures announced to tackle bovine TB
The government has announced new measures to tackle bovine TB in cattle in England. The measures include the introduction of a requirement for pre-movement testing in cattle and a 12-week consultation on badger culling, as well as the introduction of a new compensation scheme.
New measures announced to tackle bovine TB
The government has announced new measures to tackle bovine TB in cattle in England. The measures include the introduction of a requirement for pre-movement testing in cattle and a 12-week consultation on badger culling, as well as the introduction of a new compensation scheme.
15 September 2010
Badger Culls Planned By Government
The Government has published proposals which would allow farmers to cull badgers as part of measures to control bovine tuberculosis in cattle. Defra has launched a consultation on the proposal to issue licences to farmers and landowners who wish to cull and/or vaccinate badgers at their own expense.
Badger Culls Planned By Government
The Government has published proposals which would allow farmers to cull badgers as part of measures to control bovine tuberculosis in cattle. Defra has launched a consultation on the proposal to issue licences to farmers and landowners who wish to cull and/or vaccinate badgers at their own expense.
09 September 2014
Year Two of Badger Cull Underway
The second year of a badger cull is now underway in Gloucestershire and Somerset. Almost 1,000 badgers are to be killed in the second year of the cull, which started last year in an effort to stop the spread of bovine TB. Some 1,800 badgers were culled in 2013.
Year Two of Badger Cull Underway
The second year of a badger cull is now underway in Gloucestershire and Somerset. Almost 1,000 badgers are to be killed in the second year of the cull, which started last year in an effort to stop the spread of bovine TB. Some 1,800 badgers were culled in 2013.
27 August 2013
Badger Cull Begins In Somerset
The National Farmer's Union (NFU) have confirmed that a controversial badger cull has begun in Somerset. It is understood that some 5,000 badgers are expected to be killed in six weeks in an effort to control the spread of bovine TB, which it is claimed is spread to cattle from infected badgers.
Badger Cull Begins In Somerset
The National Farmer's Union (NFU) have confirmed that a controversial badger cull has begun in Somerset. It is understood that some 5,000 badgers are expected to be killed in six weeks in an effort to control the spread of bovine TB, which it is claimed is spread to cattle from infected badgers.
15 December 2011
Opposition Fails To Halt Huge Badger Cull
A major cull of Britain's badgers is to go ahead despite calls from animal campaigners for the plan to be scrapped. On Wednesday, Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, approved culls in two trial areas in an attempt to control bovine TB.
Opposition Fails To Halt Huge Badger Cull
A major cull of Britain's badgers is to go ahead despite calls from animal campaigners for the plan to be scrapped. On Wednesday, Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, approved culls in two trial areas in an attempt to control bovine TB.
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