This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/13/end-the-secrecy-over-badger-cull-zones
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| End the secrecy over badger cull zones | End the secrecy over badger cull zones |
| (4 months later) | |
| Letters | |
| Wed 13 Sep 2017 18.10 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 17.04 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| Thousands more badgers are to be killed in new and extended government-licensed control zones (Huge rise in badger culling will see up to 33,500 animals shot, 12 September). | Thousands more badgers are to be killed in new and extended government-licensed control zones (Huge rise in badger culling will see up to 33,500 animals shot, 12 September). |
| The government believes badger killing will eliminate bovine tuberculosis but won’t publish details of the zones, arguing public safety might be compromised. However, much of the killing takes place on land to which the citizen has some access. Disclosure would equip citizens to make informed judgments about their safety and that of their pets and about whether the shooting and trapping in their own backyard is legal or not. They could then engage in legitimate protest about the systematic killing of our native wildlife – in short, ensuring licence holders and the government can be held to account. | The government believes badger killing will eliminate bovine tuberculosis but won’t publish details of the zones, arguing public safety might be compromised. However, much of the killing takes place on land to which the citizen has some access. Disclosure would equip citizens to make informed judgments about their safety and that of their pets and about whether the shooting and trapping in their own backyard is legal or not. They could then engage in legitimate protest about the systematic killing of our native wildlife – in short, ensuring licence holders and the government can be held to account. |
| The information commissioner has ruled the data should be freely available but, conveniently, much of the detail rests with the organisations licensed to kill badgers, the “control companies”, to which freedom of information obligations do not apply. Most of us will only find out that they live within a killing zone by hearing the sound of gunfire.Jonathon Porritt Forum for the FutureMark Jones Born Free FoundationAlick SimmonsChris Cheeseman | The information commissioner has ruled the data should be freely available but, conveniently, much of the detail rests with the organisations licensed to kill badgers, the “control companies”, to which freedom of information obligations do not apply. Most of us will only find out that they live within a killing zone by hearing the sound of gunfire.Jonathon Porritt Forum for the FutureMark Jones Born Free FoundationAlick SimmonsChris Cheeseman |
| • Culling badgers by shooting is a very expensive and possibly ineffective method for controlling badger numbers. Could a form of oral contraception be used instead? Badgers love to eat peanuts, as seen on the BBC programme Autumnwatch. The necessary research would be needed, but soaking peanuts in an oral contraceptive solution and suitable, targeted baiting seems a useful alternative to shooting. Of course, strict adherence to guidelines would be needed to stop other animals and birds from being put on the pill.David HurryHurstpierpoint, West Sussex | • Culling badgers by shooting is a very expensive and possibly ineffective method for controlling badger numbers. Could a form of oral contraception be used instead? Badgers love to eat peanuts, as seen on the BBC programme Autumnwatch. The necessary research would be needed, but soaking peanuts in an oral contraceptive solution and suitable, targeted baiting seems a useful alternative to shooting. Of course, strict adherence to guidelines would be needed to stop other animals and birds from being put on the pill.David HurryHurstpierpoint, West Sussex |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| Badgers | |
| Animals | |
| Wildlife | |
| Bovine tuberculosis | |
| Farming | |
| Animal welfare | |
| letters | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |