Wildlife group launches petition to end ‘barbaric’ badger cull
The Irish Wildlife Trust said 115,000 badgers have been slaughtered by the Government since 1984. In many cases, the badger takes days to die in the snares and their young starve, the trust said.
However, the Department of Agriculture strongly defended its culling policy.
Research carried out by the trust claimed that 6,000 snares were set each night and 75 Government staff were involved in snaring and killing the badgers, which are protected under European law. The group also said €70 million of citizens’ money has been allocated to disease eradication programme this year alone.
“The Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) is opposed to badger culling and the use of snares as a badger control. Not only is it barbaric and unethical, recent findings have shown it to be ineffective in the war on bovine TB.
“The IWT wants this practice to stop immediately. The IWT recognise that bovine TB is a major problem for Irish farmers but it also must be recognised that culling does not work.”
The trust has called for resources to be focused on a vaccination programme.
Yesterday, the Department of Agriculture strongly defended its culling policy, saying there was strong evidence badgers spread bovine TB. However, it stated that it wanted to move to a vaccination programme.
“The department is satisfied that the introduction of the badger removal policy has contributed to a reduction in the incidence of TB over the past number of years.” It said herd incidence has fallen from 7.5% in 2000 to 4.6% last year and reactor numbers in 2010 were, at 20,200, the lowest recorded since the programme began in the 1950s.
The department insisted the restraints were humane and under the best veterinary advice but that “nevertheless, our intention is to replace culling with a vaccination programme”.
lThe IWT petition can be seen via the shortcut: http://exa.mn/petition
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