The Guardian has learned that England's badger culls are due to begin on the night of Monday 26th August. The cull will take place in Gloucestershire and Somerset. The animal welfare group 'Care For the Wild', using figures released by Defra under the Freedom of Information Act, has accused them of not properly assessing the suffering of badgers as the figures reveal that as few as 120 out of the 5,000 shootings will be independently observed. The Information Commissioner instructed Defra to reveal this information.
The expected cull has split national opinion. Although the badger is a protected species ministers and farmers insist that a cull is necessary to stop spiralling rates of bTB in livestock. Opponents say it will have little effect on infection and will cause suffering to badgers.
Many of you will recall that Lord Krebs, one of the Government's key advisers on the issue and a world expert in zoology, has previously described the policy as a mistake. He said research showed that killing 70% of badgers in a restricted area only reduced bovine TB by 16%.
Philip Mansbridge, Care For the Wild chief executive, said: "The truth is this cull has no scientific or moral basis. Going ahead with it will give false hope to farmers, is pointless for cattle and utterly disastrous for badgers".
The NFU is making an injunction bid today in the High Court to restrict the activity of badger cull opponents. They claim that some farmers have been intimidated and harassed and therefore need protection. Opponents will challenge the legal bid claiming it will prevent their right to peaceful protest.
An e-petition to HM Government, created by Dr Brian May CBE, entitled "Stop the Badger Cull" has been signed by 264,965 individuals. No matter which side of the debate you support this is a compelling number of people who want to see the cull stopped.
The nation will, I am sure, remain divided on this one.
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