Initial Response to Government Statement on bTB eradication plan from Badger Trust
- Badger Trust Staff Team
- Aug 30, 2024
- 3 min read
Government Extends the Badger Cull
DEFRA Minister Zeichner focuses too much on badgers in new strategy when he should focus on cattle
Bovine TB spreads mainly from cattle to cattle — 94% of cases according to the Government. It would be hard to recognise this from the latest bTB eradication plan announced today by DEFRA Minister Daniel Zeichner MP.
With a focus of the new strategy still squarely on the innocent badger, Zeichner pledges to:
Honour existing badger cull licences — that means around 50,000 badgers are targeted for slaughter in 2024, with an intensive cull starting this weekend. It could mean the same again in the last round of existing cull licences in 2025. This is on top of the 230,000 badgers already killed.
To end the badger cull in this Parliament — however, that means badgers could be culled until 2029 and a new licence application is already in for Cumbria. This is shocking news for the majority of the population who oppose badger culling and thought it was going to stop.
Peter Hambly, Chief Executive of Badger Trust said,
“The new announcement on bovine TB keeps badgers in the firing line. It focuses too much on badgers rather than cattle when cattle are the main spreaders of this cattle disease. It admits the government doesn’t know how many badgers are left or how many even have bTB.
They haven’t counted them and haven’t tested them but they continue to slaughter them.
This planned intensification of badger culling by the Government, against their manifesto pledge, must be stopped.
Badger Trust and allies will be protesting in Westminster on 3 September against this wildlife slaughter, which is contrary to the scientific evidence that points to reducing cattle-to-cattle transmission as the way forward. In the election campaign, Labour admitted badger culling was ineffective, yet they have chosen to target badgers for slaughter in their tens of thousands.”
Rosie Wood, Chair of Badger Trust added,
“The Government has lost the plot. They know killing badgers doesn’t work but say they will continue the badger cull to provide “clarity” for the farming community and the people who kill badgers.
They should show clarity and honesty to the farmers and us all by focusing on the cattle —proper testing, better biosecurity and cattle vaccination is the way forward.
This badger cull is an indelible stain on this Labour government, and it needs to stop before thousands more badgers and their cubs are slaughtered with no impact on bTB in cattle.
The intensive cull starts again this weekend — it should be stopped right now.”
Join in with the National Day of Action Against the Badger Cull on Tuesday, 3 September
Badger Trust is holding a National Day of Action Against the Badger Cull on Tuesday, 3 September 2024. Will you join in?
Wildlife groups and badger protectors around the UK will come together in a powerful display of unity to call for the new government to end the cull as intensive badger killing begins again in September.
Join us outside Parliament in London
The morning will start with multiple anti-cull petition presentations at Defra.
From 11 am to 1.30 pm, supporters will gather in Parliament Square, London, where we will hold a peaceful, legal demonstration against the badger cull.
From 1.30 pm, supporters will enter Parliament with us for a mass lobby of MPs and call for an immediate end to the ineffective and unethical cull.
Download your guide to the day and learn how you can take part.
Join in from home
You can still make a difference for badgers from your home:
Arrange a meeting with your newly elected MP that week. Tell them you're advocating for an immediate end to the cruel badger killing.
Email your newly elected MP about the cull and why you want them to represent your views and stop the cull now.
