10/03/2011
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The Badger Trust, which successfully derailed original proposals for a cull in July last year, has condemned announcements that a cull will go ahead in the Intensive action area of Western Wales, but rural affairs minister Elin Jones is determined to press on with plans.

The controversial TB control method was delayed last year after the Trust triumphed in court; the court ruled that not only had the order permitting the cull been drawn too widely, but that Welsh ministers had also acted unlawfully in misinterpreting section 21 of the Animal Health Act.  However, Elin Jones is eager for a cull to go ahead in the Intensive Action Area, covering North Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, despite recognising the "genuine concern" of its opponents.

If the cull does go ahead around 1,400 of Wales’ badger population (estimated to be 35,000) are likely to be trapped and shot by contractors. The Government insists that population levels will recover.

Welsh Decision puts pressure on Defra

Yesterday's announcemnt by Ellin Jones has put pressure on Defra to make a decision over whether or not a cull will go ahead in TB endemic areas of England. Ministers in England are reportedly preparing to licence farmers to kill badgers. An announcement over the English cull proposals was expected at the end of February, but could be delayed until May. A Defra spokesperson said at the time that the department did not want to "mess up" again so soon after aborting its highly unpopular proposals to sell of public forests.  

Defra said "Bovine TB is a devastating disease and tackling it is complex, so ... we need to make sure we get it right.” The department said it will be announcing “a comprehensive and balanced TB eradication programme for England as soon as possible."

NFU Cmryu and FUW have both expressed their support for the Jones’ decision. Brian Walters, FUW spokesperson, said, “There is only one approach which has been shown scientifically to reduce bTB incidences in hotspot areas where bTB is endemic in badgers, and that is culling.”

RSPCA and Badger Trust express ‘disappointment’

However, The Welsh RSPCA and the Badger Trust have both announced their “disappointment” at the news. RSPCA spokesperson and wildlife scientist Colin Booty said, "We believe that this is a dead end policy in every respect. Not only will it result in the death of at least 70% of badgers from the cull area, but it will not resolve the problem in other areas of Wales."

The Badger Trust condemned the Welsh Government’s "misconceived and counterproductive proposals,” saying Jones’ decision was made “despite significant reductions in bovine tuberculosis over the past two years." The Trust has pledged to seek legal advice and potentially challenge the decision in the Welsh assembly. If the order goes unchallenged by Assembly Members it will come into force on 31 March, otherwise it could be subject to a debate and a vote in the Senedd.

Dr Chris Cheeseman, a badger ecologist with more than 30 years experience, described the announcement as a "depressing but somewhat predictable development". Cheeseman told BBC Wales, "I think the Welsh Assembly Government is on a mission to cull badgers and I've come to regard this as politically driven because the science really doesn't support the cull. [If a cull goes ahead] there will be winners and losers - some farms may be prevented from getting TB in their cattle and other farms on the periphery of culled areas will be infected that wouldn't otherwise be infected.”