Further information about the trial and the scientific information and results emerging from it is available in the ISG’s Final Report
(2.5 MB).The government will soon make a decision on whether to go ahead with a cull of badgers as a means of controlling bovine TB in England.
The Government commissioned a trial costing taxpayers £50 million in which just under 11,000 badgers were culled between 1998 and early 2006. It was designed by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG) and investigated how bTB spread between cattle, badgers and other wildlife. Their conclusion was that while badgers are a source of bovine TB in cattle, badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain.
Further information about the trial and the scientific information and results emerging from it is available in the ISG’s Final Report (2.5 MB).
Subsequently, the Government's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King, has suggested a cull of badgers in England should be undertaken. His suggestion was slammed by one of the world's leading scientific journals, Nature, and in analysis undertaken by both the ISG, and by Professor Denis Mollison, the independent statistical auditor of the ISG's work and Emeritus Professor of Applied Probability at Heriot-Watt University.
There are several campaigns seeking to raise public awareness and to encourage the politicians to BACK OFF BADGERS!
The Badger Trust promotes the conservation and welfare of badgers and the protection of their setts and habitats. They are the leading voice for badgers and represent and support around 80 local voluntary badger groups. The Badger Trust provides expert advice on all badger issues and works closely with MPs, the police and other conservation and welfare organisations.
The Badger Trust has posters and leaflets for their ‘Killed or Saved?’ campaign that encourages the public to write to their MP’s
The RSPCA has expressed shock at the recommendation put forward by the Government's Chief Scientific Advisor, and urges signing their on-line petition today before the government makes the decision to proceed with a mass slaughter of one of Britain's most loved mammals.
http://www.backoffbadgers.org.uk/
Secret World Wildlife Rescue is continuing to fight the government’s plans to slaughter thousands of badgers with the use of gassing and snaring. To add you name to their on-line petition, and to hear the latest on this fight, please head to www.blackandwhite.info
More information, some interesting links, and a downloadable poster at www.stopwaronbadgers.org
The Peninsula Badgers e-group is for anyone interested in the European badger (meles meles) and related issues.
This egroup is targeted specifically at people living in the far southwest of England, particularly Devon and Cornwall, but wherever you live, you're welcome to join!
The moderator posts regular messages from a number of sources including the Badger Trust, and all members can also send their own messages to the group.
Why not join the Peninsula Badgers Yahoo! egroup? It’s free and easy to join!
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