This article is from the source 'bbc' 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 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23929964
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Badger cull 'going to plan', environment secretary says | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A pilot badger cull is "proceeding to plan" and organisers are "pleased with progress to date", Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said. | A pilot badger cull is "proceeding to plan" and organisers are "pleased with progress to date", Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has said. |
| The cull has begun in Somerset and is due to start in Gloucestershire. It will see a total of some 5,000 badgers killed over a six-week period. | The cull has begun in Somerset and is due to start in Gloucestershire. It will see a total of some 5,000 badgers killed over a six-week period. |
| Mr Paterson said in a statement to the Commons the cull was "based on the best available scientific evidence". | |
| Opponents say the cull is inhumane and ineffective in tackling bovine TB. | Opponents say the cull is inhumane and ineffective in tackling bovine TB. |
| The pilot will test whether the cull can be carried out "effectively, humanely and safely". | The pilot will test whether the cull can be carried out "effectively, humanely and safely". |
| It will test whether the trained marksmen can shoot a badger in the heart and/or lung area without causing any unnecessary suffering, meet the planned cull targets and ensure there is no risk to public safety. | |
| At this point, the pilot will not examine how successful the cull is in reducing the spread of bovine TB from badgers to livestock. | At this point, the pilot will not examine how successful the cull is in reducing the spread of bovine TB from badgers to livestock. |
| Broader strategy | |
| Mr Paterson added in his written statement: "The outcome of the pilot cull and an analysis of the monitoring will be published. | |
| "The evidence will be considered by ministers in deciding whether or not the policy should be rolled out more widely." | "The evidence will be considered by ministers in deciding whether or not the policy should be rolled out more widely." |
| He also said culling was just one part of a broader TB strategy for ridding England of the disease over the next 25 years. | He also said culling was just one part of a broader TB strategy for ridding England of the disease over the next 25 years. |
| Other parts of the strategy include disease surveillance and development of new badger and cattle vaccines. | Other parts of the strategy include disease surveillance and development of new badger and cattle vaccines. |
| He said: "This pilot cull is a necessary part of a wide range of actions that we need to take if we are to free the cattle industry from the burden of this devastating disease. | He said: "This pilot cull is a necessary part of a wide range of actions that we need to take if we are to free the cattle industry from the burden of this devastating disease. |
| "We wish to see healthy cattle living alongside healthy wildlife." | "We wish to see healthy cattle living alongside healthy wildlife." |
| The number of badgers killed so far has not been given. | |
| A Defra spokesperson said: "Details of the ongoing operation are not being released while the culls are taking place. | |
| "A full report will be published once the pilots have concluded." | |
| The cull has provoked protests from animal charities and campaigners who have built camps near the cull zones. | The cull has provoked protests from animal charities and campaigners who have built camps near the cull zones. |
| They want the emphasis to be on vaccines and tighter cattle movement measures rather than culling. | They want the emphasis to be on vaccines and tighter cattle movement measures rather than culling. |