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Badger cull falls short of its target in Gloucestershire Badger cull falls short of its target in Gloucestershire
(about 3 hours later)
The number of badgers killed in Gloucestershire as part of a cull by farmers and government to curb bovine tuberculosis in cattle has fallen well short of its target. The number of badgers killed in Gloucestershire as part of a cull by farmers and government to curb bovine tuberculosis in cattle has fallen far short of its target.
Just 708 badgers, or 30% of the population in the cull zone, have been killed during the past six weeks. The initial target was 2,900 badgers, or 70% of the population.Just 708 badgers, or 30% of the population in the cull zone, have been killed during the past six weeks. The initial target was 2,900 badgers, or 70% of the population.
The figures comes a week after ministers admitted they had also missed the target in the other cull zone, in Somerset, leading environment secretary, Owen Paterson to claim that the "badgers were moving the goalposts" because population estimates had been revised downwards from last year, when the culls were inititally planned.The figures comes a week after ministers admitted they had also missed the target in the other cull zone, in Somerset, leading environment secretary, Owen Paterson to claim that the "badgers were moving the goalposts" because population estimates had been revised downwards from last year, when the culls were inititally planned.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs put the Gloucestershire zone's badger population at 3,644 in autumn last year, but that has been revised down to 2,350. But even with that new lower figure, the cull has only killed 40% rather than 70%. The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs put the Gloucestershire zone's badger population at 3,644 in autumn last year, but that has been revised down to 2,350. But even with that new lower figure, the cull has only killed 30% rather than 70%.
Hitting the targets is key to reduce the incidences of bovine TB – a previous decade-long trial showed that if fewer than 40% of badgers were killed, the number of infections could actually increase as badgers fled the culling and came into contact with cattle. Hitting the targets is key to cutting bovine TB infections: a previous decade-long trial showed that if fewer than 30% of badgers were killed, TB infections actually increased as badgers fled the culling and spread the disease further afield, an effect known as perturbation.
The company conducting the Gloucestershire cull has applied for an eight-week extension to the original six-week limit. In the landmark decade-long trial, culling was completed in 8-11 days to minimise perturbation, and scientists have repeatedly warned that drawn-out culls could in fact increase TB infections. Last Friday, the Somerset cull was granted an extension of three weeks.
Paterson said in a written ministerial statement on Thursday: "I have always been clear that both the Somerset and Gloucestershire culls are pilots. This has enabled us to test the safety, humaneness and effectiveness of controlled shooting as a means of reducing badger numbers and so reduce significantly disease in cattle. Having the two separate pilot areas has similarly enabled us to see how different environmental factors, field and other conditions affect the practical delivery of our objectives. Experience gained on the ground has been invaluable."Paterson said in a written ministerial statement on Thursday: "I have always been clear that both the Somerset and Gloucestershire culls are pilots. This has enabled us to test the safety, humaneness and effectiveness of controlled shooting as a means of reducing badger numbers and so reduce significantly disease in cattle. Having the two separate pilot areas has similarly enabled us to see how different environmental factors, field and other conditions affect the practical delivery of our objectives. Experience gained on the ground has been invaluable."
The company that manages the marksmen will now apply for an extension to the Gloucestershire cull. Last Friday, the Somerset cull was granted an extension of three weeks. Mark Jones, executive director of Humane Society International UK and a Gloucestershire resident, said: "Whilst I am relieved that marksmen failed to slaughter the number of badgers they intended to in Gloucestershire, it's clear that their inability to achieve their kill target in both cull zones represents the latest in what has become a catalogue of failures of these disastrous pilot culls to deliver against Defra's own criteria.
More than half of the British public deem the pilot culls to be a failure, according to a YouGov poll of 1,805 adults published on Wednesday and commissioned by the Humane Society International, which found just 15% thought the culls had been a success. "Instead of lurching towards an extension to prolong this pointless waste of resources, time and animals' lives, Defra must surely now admit that its badger cull policy is in tatters and and must be abandoned in favour of a more science-led, humane and acceptable approach to controlling bovine TB."
More than half of the British public deem the pilot culls to be a failure, according to a YouGov poll of 1,805 adults published on Wednesday and commissioned by the HSI-UK, which found just 15% thought the culls had been a success.
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