Badger cull is not the answer - Our view on the badger cull

Dorset Wildlife Trust has expressed extreme disappointment at today’s Government announcement in favour of badger culling. Dorset’s largest conservation organisation joins with Wildlife Trusts across England in condemning a decision that ignores the main body of scientific evidence relating to culling.

Chief Executive speaks on the cull

Simon Cripps, Chief Executive of Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “We are very keen to find an effective, long term solution to the problem of Bovine TB (bTB), which is why we want the Government to put more effort into an effective vaccine instead of a cull. We have a great deal of sympathy for farmers who lose stock as a result of bTB and are acutely aware of the problems this disease causes in Dorset. However a badger cull is not the answer.”

Dorset Wildlife Trust believes bTB should be tackled on multiple fronts, including vaccines for badgers and cattle and use of all possible biosecurity measures to prevent transmission between cattle.

Dorset Wildlife Trust strongly supports the development of the bTB vaccine for cattle. It calls on the Government to show a clear commitment to ensuring this occurs and supports the subsequent wide-scale deployment. In June Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust embarked on the first trial of the injectable vaccine that is already available for badgers.

More from the Chief Executive

Simon added: “Now that we have a vaccine for badgers, every effort should be put into putting it into use and to developing an oral vaccine that could be administered more effectively, and, into developing a vaccine for cattle. It is vital for wildlife that extensive cattle grazing remains economically viable. However, even at the Government’s own best estimates, a cull would only reduce bTB by 16%. It could actually make the problem worse by spreading the disease onto farms previously unaffected.”

You can read more on our position on the badger cull here and at the Wildlife Trusts website here http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/badgers-and-bovineTB

-ENDS-
Notes to Editor

For more information please contact Nicky Hoar at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 264620.

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About Dorset Wildlife Trust www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Working for a secure future for Dorset’s wildlife enriching the quality of life Dorset Wildlife Trust works to champion wildlife and natural places, to engage and inspire people and to promote sustainable living. Founded in 1961, DWT is now the largest voluntary nature conservation organisation in Dorset, with over 25,000 members and over 40 nature reserves. Most are open daily and there are visitor centres providing a wealth of wildlife information at Brooklands Farm, Lorton Meadows, Kingcombe Meadows and Brownsea Island Nature Reserves, The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and the Urban Wildlife Centre at Upton Heath Nature Reserve. DWT plays a key role in dealing with local environmental issues and leads the way in establishing the practices of sustainable development and engaging new audiences in conservation, particularly in the urban areas.

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The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) www.wildlifetrusts.org

There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney. All are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. We have more than 800,000 members including 150,000 members of our junior branch Wildlife Watch. Our vision is to create A Living Landscape and secure Living Seas. We manage around 2,300 nature reserves and every year we advise thousands of landowners and organisations on how to manage their land for wildlife. We also run marine conservation projects around the UK, collecting vital data on the state of our seas and celebrating our amazing marine wildlife. Every year we work with thousands of schools and our nature reserves and visitor centres receive millions of visitors. Each Wildlife Trust is working within its local communities to inspire people about the future of their area: their own Living Landscapes and Living Seas.