Badger cull: Government to delay scheme until next year

[Brennan]

The government has announced it will delay a planned cull of badgers in England until next summer, after widespread protests against the scheme.

Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said this was necessary to "get it right" and the "optimal time" for this year had passed.

Under the coalition's plans, several thousand badgers could be shot by trained marksmen, in an effort to reduce levels of bovine tuberculosis.

Opponents say this is unnecessary.

Ministers have given approval for a cull in two areas, Gloucestershire and west Somerset, as part of efforts to control bovine TB.
Under the plans, badgers will be shot in the open without first being trapped in cages, which is current practice.

Opponents, including the RSPCA, say that is inhumane. An e-petition to the government, created by Queen guitarist Brian May, has attracted more than 160,000 signatures.

The government's plan is based on the results of a nine-year trial which showed the spread of the disease could be slowed slightly if more than 70% of badgers in an area could be eradicated. But if it was less than 70%, the spread of TB could increase, it found.

Can't believe this was ever approved in the first place. This is where we as humans massively overstep the mark, killing thousands of animals so we can save our own interests when the results may not even be effective.

 

[Bungle]

I'm not sure it's as black and white as they make it seem

 

[wandyr79]

Humans rule

 

[Goat]

The stench of moral outrage yet again.

They are badgers, we are humans, we are top of the food chain, kill em all.

 

[bluejock]

I'm not sure it's as black and white as they make it seem

 

[Brennan]

The stench of moral outrage yet again.

They are badgers, we are humans, we are top of the food chain, kill em all.

Wouldn't be so supportive of it, only so long before they're hunting fatties to keep the normal sized people alive.

 

[Kurt.]

*Simon Bodger likes this*

 

[Goat]

All fat people should be shot.

Strain on the NHS.

And people who smoke, drink, dont look both ways when crossing the road and of course, the Arabs.

 

[Kurt.]

Live and let Die I say !!

 

[Joao Moutinho]

Can't believe this is what they are discussing in the cabinet... not like we have any other problems right now

 

[Groucho]

The problem would be that the removal of badgers may have had knock on effects to wildlife. It is unknown what effects culling has prior to doing it, and is potentially disastrous. I'm DEFFO not an environmentalist, but this may have been very dodgy - don't mess with nature.

Believe it or not, if it were permanently scrapped, Brian May (yes, that one) would like this news.

 

[Blue 1]

I work on a dairy farm in Somerset and even the farmers are split on it's neccesity.

There's not enough evidence to justify it at the moment.

Not entirely sure there ever could be, personally.

Godd animal husbandry and farm management is far more important in stopping the spread of TB.

 

[Kurt.]

I work on a dairy farm in Somerset and even the farmers are split on it's neccesity.

There's not enough evidence to justify it at the moment.

Not entirely sure there ever could be, personally.

Godd animal husbandry and farm management is far more important in stopping the spread of TB.

your gonna marry an animal yer big animal molesting bum messer ??

 

[BlueLlama]

I like badgers and don't like farmers.

If they want to cull badgers they should only be allowed to fight them unarmed.

 

[somuchfun]

Club them!