Surprise surprise badger cull in Wales

[stripee]

Well it's been on the cards for about a year, so I'm not surprised. However, I am disgusted with the Welsh Assembly. They went to Ireland last year to see how they carried out a cull there, a great success it has been there too

[JP]

This Badger cull thing is making my blood boil Deer carry TB and range way further than Brock does, that includes introduced species too, think about that one, when was the last time Bambi was persicuted , the Badger cull is rediculous, leave our wild native mamals alone for christ sake

[Dogghound]

Just so annoying, there was a vet on TV before claiming if badgers arnt culled then it could cause a serious epidemic with humans, i thought vets were supposed to be clever. Most mammals can carry it not just badgers and deer, the biggest carrier in my eyes are the cows moving from farm to farm, to markets etc. Before trying to wipe out wildlife perhaps better farming practices should be considered.

[paulthomas]

A sickening move which flies in the face of good science. In this matter it really does seem that the devil has the best tunes.

[demicav]

Very sad news.

[Wild-Woman]

The most ridiculous and unscientific decision of all time.

[TORTUGA]

I shall be boycotting Welsh farm products, I always vote with my wallet. Next time a see a farmers market and selling welsh products, I shall go to buy something and then say "No thanks, due to the whole Badger culling issue, best of luck"

[stripee]

that's the power of devolution in Wales....idiotic decisions. they are talking about total eradication of the badger in the cull area. This treads on the rights of landowners and farmers who strongly oppose a cull, including wildlife trusts. Even if there is some sympathy for farmers, why should they have the right to interfere in other peoples lives. The WA say its because taxpayers have to pay compensation for the animals. The bovine tb hotspots are Gwent, Pembs and Carms (I live in Carms). But it is possible that it will be in the Gwent area as it has motorways and rivers to make these stupid hard boundaries. After Gwent- if that's the first area - they will go for the other areas. If there are bTB breakdowns on farms they want to be able to take out all the badgers in surrounding areas as well. England may well follow suit.

[hobble]

I am horrified at the decision taken by the welsh assembly, I don't see how culling badgers can prove anything.
I am hoping it never happens in Cornwall.

[stripee]

Originally Posted by hobble

I am horrified at the decision taken by the welsh assembly, I don't see how culling badgers can prove anything.
I am hoping it never happens in Cornwall.

I don't think in England such a cull would be able to go ahead because of the political fall out, although they may give farmers licences eventually, the effects would be more patchy. It's a political sop to the NFU. It will achieve nothing.
It is slightly odd that DEFRA gave the WA £27 million to eradicate bTB and then have no money to give for a cull in England. The numbers of livestock farmers in Wales are small compared to the whole population, and for a country that relies heavily on tourism and associated businesses it is a monumentally stupid decision. I for one would never visit a country engaged in such a barbaric act. All across Wales people have been voicing their opposition to wiping out the badger.
A cull is not going to be that easy to organise on the scale they are talking about. If gassing is not allowed, then trapping and shooting would have to take place. This is open to more protest and disruption. To eradicate the badger locally may be illegal under the Bern convention. As for re-stocking with "healthy" badgers at a later date, what rubbish, seeing as the majority of badgers are already healthy. The WA are worse than all the badger baiters and road traffic deaths of badgers put together.