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Badger culling resumes for second year Badger culling resumes for second year
(about 3 hours later)
A second year of badger culling has begun in parts of Gloucestershire and Somerset in a bid to tackle bovine TB.A second year of badger culling has begun in parts of Gloucestershire and Somerset in a bid to tackle bovine TB.
Last year, 1,800 badgers were killed in the pilot areas of west Gloucestershire and west Somerset. Just under 1,000 are due to be killed this year.Last year, 1,800 badgers were killed in the pilot areas of west Gloucestershire and west Somerset. Just under 1,000 are due to be killed this year.
The government insists culling is necessary but protesters argue shooting is not "effective or humane".The government insists culling is necessary but protesters argue shooting is not "effective or humane".
More than 26,000 cattle were slaughtered in England last year because of the spread of TB.More than 26,000 cattle were slaughtered in England last year because of the spread of TB.
Gloucestershire Police has said there had been "one encounter" between a protester and cull operator, which resulted in one badger being released from its cage.
No crime took place and the situation was "diffused", police added.
The four-year government-backed pilot aims to cull 70% of the initial population of badgers to test how "effective, humane and safe" a cull can be.The four-year government-backed pilot aims to cull 70% of the initial population of badgers to test how "effective, humane and safe" a cull can be.
England's Badger cull:England's Badger cull:
Q&A: The badger cull explainedQ&A: The badger cull explained
Find out more about badgers with BBC NatureFind out more about badgers with BBC Nature
Ministers and the National Farmers' Union (NFU) believe culling badgers will curb TB in cattle.Ministers and the National Farmers' Union (NFU) believe culling badgers will curb TB in cattle.
Andrew Guest, chairman of the NFU in Gloucestershire and spokesperson for GlosCon - the company carrying out the cull in the county - said if infected cattle were culled but not badgers it was "leaving the circle open for re-infection again and again".Andrew Guest, chairman of the NFU in Gloucestershire and spokesperson for GlosCon - the company carrying out the cull in the county - said if infected cattle were culled but not badgers it was "leaving the circle open for re-infection again and again".
Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss claimed the government's "comprehensive strategy" was supported by leading vets.Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss claimed the government's "comprehensive strategy" was supported by leading vets.
'Not a killer' 'Discredited' arguments
But protesters have claimed independent monitoring has been dropped and attempted to have the cull halted at the High Court.But protesters have claimed independent monitoring has been dropped and attempted to have the cull halted at the High Court.
The move was rejected by judges, after which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "We have always been clear that the independent expert panel's role was to oversee the six-week pilots in the first year of the culls only.The move was rejected by judges, after which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "We have always been clear that the independent expert panel's role was to oversee the six-week pilots in the first year of the culls only.
"This year we have made changes to monitor effectiveness and humaneness and the culls will be independently audited.""This year we have made changes to monitor effectiveness and humaneness and the culls will be independently audited."
An independent report by the expert panel into the first year of culls found that "controlled shooting" of free-running badgers could not deliver the level of culling needed to lower TB cases in cattle and was not humane.An independent report by the expert panel into the first year of culls found that "controlled shooting" of free-running badgers could not deliver the level of culling needed to lower TB cases in cattle and was not humane.
One anonymous marksman told the BBC's Farming Today programme once they spot a potential target badger they have to check the area is completely clear before approaching it.
To comply with rules marksmen have to be within 229ft (70m) of a badger before taking aim.
They then have to be sure the shot will be safe as they use high velocity rifles and the animal must be broadside on to expose its heart/lung area.
"I live in the countryside, I love wildlife," he said.
"I'm not a cold-blooded killer as some of our opponents would paint us as.
"I see what we're doing as really positive thing."
Protesters, who have called for alternatives such as vaccination to be considered, said Defra had "sacked the referee".Protesters, who have called for alternatives such as vaccination to be considered, said Defra had "sacked the referee".
Dominic Dyer, of the Badger Trust and Care for the Wild, said culls were "ill-conceived and incompetently managed" and called the pro-cull arguments "discredited".Dominic Dyer, of the Badger Trust and Care for the Wild, said culls were "ill-conceived and incompetently managed" and called the pro-cull arguments "discredited".
"Here we have a government and the National Farmers' Union pushing ahead with a policy simply because they don't have the guts to admit that it is wrong," he added."Here we have a government and the National Farmers' Union pushing ahead with a policy simply because they don't have the guts to admit that it is wrong," he added.