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| Gloucestershire badger cull falls short of target | Gloucestershire badger cull falls short of target |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The number of badgers shot during a six-week cull in Gloucestershire has fallen short of its target, environment secretary Owen Paterson has told MPs. | The number of badgers shot during a six-week cull in Gloucestershire has fallen short of its target, environment secretary Owen Paterson has told MPs. |
| Defra said 708 badgers have been culled in Gloucestershire, just 30% of the badger population. | Defra said 708 badgers have been culled in Gloucestershire, just 30% of the badger population. |
| The original target was 2,900 badgers, based on a population estimate of 3,400 animals. The target was revised to 1,650, from a population of 2,350. | The original target was 2,900 badgers, based on a population estimate of 3,400 animals. The target was revised to 1,650, from a population of 2,350. |
| Defra has advised that the period of culling this year should be extended. | Defra has advised that the period of culling this year should be extended. |
| 'Safe and humane' | 'Safe and humane' |
| The government department's chief veterinary officer said the cull would achieve the "earliest and greatest possible impact" on bovine TB in Gloucestershire. | The government department's chief veterinary officer said the cull would achieve the "earliest and greatest possible impact" on bovine TB in Gloucestershire. |
| "Natural England is therefore considering an application for an extension from the cull company in Gloucestershire," a statement from the organisation said. | "Natural England is therefore considering an application for an extension from the cull company in Gloucestershire," a statement from the organisation said. |
| "A decision is expected shortly." | "A decision is expected shortly." |
| Mr Paterson told the BBC that cull figures were "not bad news" but admitted that those carrying out the cull had "got off to a slower start" in Gloucestershire. | |
| "We must remember that these are pilots," he said. | |
| "This has not been done before and we are learning, clearly, in each area. This isn't a sudden six-week period. These pilots are intended to go on for four years. | |
| "Up to to the end of July, a further 20,000 perfectly healthy cattle have been hauled off to slaughter at horrendous expense to the taxpayer because we've lost control of TB." | |
| Mr Paterson said 305,000 cattle had been "lost" over the past 10 years and it was "not acceptable" to allow the disease to go on. | |
| 'Government craziness" | |
| The badger cull in Gloucestershire ended this week. A licence was granted last week to extend the badger cull in Somerset until 1 November. | The badger cull in Gloucestershire ended this week. A licence was granted last week to extend the badger cull in Somerset until 1 November. |
| Defra said early indications from Gloucestershire are that, as in Somerset, the pilot had been "safe and humane". | |
| Last week Mr Paterson said the government was exploring the possibility of gassing badgers to cull carriers of bovine TB. | Last week Mr Paterson said the government was exploring the possibility of gassing badgers to cull carriers of bovine TB. |
| Stop the Badger Cull spokesman Jay Tiernan said the cull had been a "massive failure". | |
| "It's disgraceful," he said. "It clearly isn't safe, effective or humane. | |
| "It is time for someone to bite the bullet and admit it's been a failure. | |
| "It's just more craziness from the government. How can they double the number of badgers culled in half the time scale? | |
| "It doesn't make sense. I wouldn't expect them to even reach 1,000." | |
| Mr Tiernan said protests against the culls would continue, with a redoubling of effort in Somerset if the Gloucestershire extension is turned down. |