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| Second badger cull is believed to have begun in Gloucestershire | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A badger cull in Gloucestershire is believed to have begun - a week after the first stage of the government pilot started in Somerset. | |
| Gloucestershire Police said its badger cull policing operation was at "full capacity" from 20:00 BST on Tuesday but no arrests had been made. | Gloucestershire Police said its badger cull policing operation was at "full capacity" from 20:00 BST on Tuesday but no arrests had been made. |
| About 5,000 badgers are expected to be killed in controlled shootings over six weeks in a bid to curb bovine TB. | About 5,000 badgers are expected to be killed in controlled shootings over six weeks in a bid to curb bovine TB. |
| Anti-cull protesters have vowed to disrupt the shootings. | Anti-cull protesters have vowed to disrupt the shootings. |
| More than 100 campaigners gathered in Gloucestershire, with observers monitoring the cull zone for signs of shooting. | More than 100 campaigners gathered in Gloucestershire, with observers monitoring the cull zone for signs of shooting. |
| 'Even-handed' | 'Even-handed' |
| Drew Pratten, from Stop the Cull, said the group was confident it could prevent the cull taking place, adding: "We're as ready as we will ever be to stop it by getting between the setts and the pre-baiters." | Drew Pratten, from Stop the Cull, said the group was confident it could prevent the cull taking place, adding: "We're as ready as we will ever be to stop it by getting between the setts and the pre-baiters." |
| A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said the cull was a Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) policy that was being implemented by private companies under licence by Natural England. | A Gloucestershire Police spokesman said the cull was a Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) policy that was being implemented by private companies under licence by Natural England. |
| He added: "Our role will be operationally independent, impartial, even-handed and fair to everyone whatever their views, interest or involvement in the pilot scheme." | He added: "Our role will be operationally independent, impartial, even-handed and fair to everyone whatever their views, interest or involvement in the pilot scheme." |
| Initially the pilot will not examine how successful culling has been in reducing the spread of TB to livestock. | Initially the pilot will not examine how successful culling has been in reducing the spread of TB to livestock. |
| Instead, it will test whether the cull can be carried out "effectively, humanely and safely". | Instead, it will test whether the cull can be carried out "effectively, humanely and safely". |
| No-one involved in the cull will say how many badgers have so far been shot or killed. | No-one involved in the cull will say how many badgers have so far been shot or killed. |
| The government has said the cull is necessary and could make a meaningful contribution to controlling TB in cattle. | The government has said the cull is necessary and could make a meaningful contribution to controlling TB in cattle. |
| Campaigners have fought the plans since the test areas were revealed last year. They argue a cull is unnecessary, inhumane and ineffective in controlling the disease. | Campaigners have fought the plans since the test areas were revealed last year. They argue a cull is unnecessary, inhumane and ineffective in controlling the disease. |