Welsh Government delays badger cull decision (From Western Telegraph)
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Welsh Government delays badger cull decision
11:28am Wednesday 22nd June 2011 in News
The Welsh Government's decision to delay the cull of badgers in Wales has been welcomed by animal campaigners, while farmers and landowners have reacting angrily to the news.
Welsh Environment Minister John Griffiths announced yesterday (Tuesday) that a review of the evidence base on eradicating Bovine TB in Wales would be carried out by an independent panel of experts, overseen by Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor John Harries.
Mr Griffiths said: "Bovine TB is the subject of considerable debate. This is also true of the huge body of scientific research related to the disease.
"The eradication of bovine TB in Wales is a long term Welsh Government commitment. It will require the application of new technologies and scientific developments as they become available. The Welsh Government will continue to monitor these new technologies and the continued evolution of the policy."
Mr Griffiths also confirmed there would be no culling of badgers whilst the review is being carried out in the North Pembrokeshire Intensive Action Area, the review expected to be delivered in the autumn.
Chair of Pembrokeshire Against the Cull (PAC), Celia Thomas said: "We are optimistic that a scientific review will favour a long term solution that reduces bovine TB in both cattle and badgers, a solution that culling cannot offer."
Both the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) criticised the decision, saying that sufficient scientific research had already been carried out.
FUW TB spokesman and Vice President Brian Walters said: "Cattle farmers are being crippled by this disease, are incurring massive extra costs and are seeing their businesses locked down, particularly in north Pembrokeshire where harsh restrictions have been in place for well over a year."
Stephen James, NFU Cymru's Deputy President said: "Time is of the essence, we've already waited too long. It is crucial that the peer review group is set up swiftly, that the terms of reference are agreed without delay and that the group reports to the Minister by the autumn at the latest. Unless a rigorous timetable is adhered to farmers will be convinced that this exercise is no more than a sham."
The Badger Trust welcomed the news, saying that it remained "determined to take whatever legal steps are required to safeguard this protected species against unjustified slaughter," although it hoped its proposed judicial review challenge could be avoided.
Comments(2)
conspiracy
says...
1:10pm Wed 22 Jun 11
Andrew Lye wrote:I am with you Andrew, hands of the Badgers!
I have EVERY sympathy with the farmers, but I am totally against the cull as the whole matter has been poorly handled by the Welsh Assembly and can appreciate the farmers predicament.
We had Elin Jones who seemed hell bent on pressing the button to slaughter badgers and we had another Plaid AM last night criticising the new Labour Welsh Government for now putting the cull on hold as it undertakes a review based on the science behind a cull.
So Plaid seem to wholeheartedly backing a slaughter, which would probably also bring huge numbers of animal rights activists to West Wales and we will have to pay huge sums for Dyfed-Powys police to keep the peace... or try to.
I have always been against culling badgers and I still feel we havent had the full information to make a proper decision. From what I saw a few months back, the Irish Republic has slaughtered tens of thousands of badgers and STILL not eradicated bovine TB.
As badgers were here before the cow and will still be here if man was wiped of the face of the earth, unlike cows, we owe it to protect our wildlife and do our utmost to find other ways to eradicate bovine TB.
Its a shame the scientific evidence was not called for years ago and hopefully Wales will look at the policy of the National Trust to vaccinate badgers on their own land.
We all have a right to live on this planet and whilst we all want our milk and beef, the milk is pasteurised before we consume it.
I dont want us to slaughter badgers if an alternative can be found. To be honest, the population of the planet is far too high and we cannot sustain current population levels, let alone a 3 billion increase predicted over the next few decades. Do we cull the human population?
The global human cull started years ago.
Google "Georgia Guide stones" : )
Andrew Lye says...
12:09pm Wed 22 Jun 11
We had Elin Jones who seemed hell bent on pressing the button to slaughter badgers and we had another Plaid AM last night criticising the new Labour Welsh Government for now putting the cull on hold as it undertakes a review based on the science behind a cull.
So Plaid seem to wholeheartedly backing a slaughter, which would probably also bring huge numbers of animal rights activists to West Wales and we will have to pay huge sums for Dyfed-Powys police to keep the peace... or try to.
I have always been against culling badgers and I still feel we havent had the full information to make a proper decision. From what I saw a few months back, the Irish Republic has slaughtered tens of thousands of badgers and STILL not eradicated bovine TB.
As badgers were here before the cow and will still be here if man was wiped of the face of the earth, unlike cows, we owe it to protect our wildlife and do our utmost to find other ways to eradicate bovine TB.
Its a shame the scientific evidence was not called for years ago and hopefully Wales will look at the policy of the National Trust to vaccinate badgers on their own land.
We all have a right to live on this planet and whilst we all want our milk and beef, the milk is pasteurised before we consume it.
I dont want us to slaughter badgers if an alternative can be found. To be honest, the population of the planet is far too high and we cannot sustain current population levels, let alone a 3 billion increase predicted over the next few decades. Do we cull the human population?