On the 15th September, the Government published a consultation paper recommending that in order to control the spread of TB in cattle, they should allow groups of farmers or landowners to CULL and/or vaccinate badgers.
If this goes ahead then those issued with a licence will be able to either:
1. Trap badgers in cages and then shoot them
and/or
2.Shoot free-running badgers
or
3. vaccinate badgers
The Badger Trust says:
'Farmers will undoubtedly choose to shoot free running badgers as it is the cheapest method. However, there is a welfare issue here as some may not be killed outright and will suffer.'
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, either take time to read the BT's guidance on the DEFRA paper and respond (with horror I hope) to the Government's proposals. This can be viewed on the Badger Trust's website:
http://www.badger.org.uk/Content/Home.aspand/or write to your MP
and/or sign the petitions started by other animal welfare groups
(links also on the website page)
If anybody can't access this information - and would like to, please let me know and I can email my copy to you.
GET PETITIONING AND SAVE OUR WILDLIFE NOW!!!