Despite a decade-long study costing £35m by the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB concluding that badger culling could not ‘meaningfully contribute’ to control of the disease (2) and original plans for a cull being struck down in the Appeal Court in July 2010 following legal action by the Badger Trust (3) the WAG have brought forward further plans for a cull. Assembly officials in Wales said the intention was to reduce the badger population "as far as we can" during 'culls' over the next five years (4). The same proposals include extra stringent cattle controls, with the result that there would be no way of determining the success or otherwise of either approach if there is a reduction in bovine TB. The fear is that this unscientific approach may be used to skew figures and push for a wider 'cull' across the rest of Wales. These fears were reinforced in February 2010, when ex-senior scientific adviser to the UK government, Dr Chris Cheeseman, called the 'cull' in Wales "perverse", and said the decision "flies in the face of the science" (5).

Viva! supporter Simon Colley who took part in the day of action in Wrexham said “It was heartening to hear so many people speaking out today for the badgers. Many voiced their concerns that we need to preserve our wildlife and were very knowledgeable about the issues. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to come up to sign letters of objection and show their support. Objections can still be made until December 17th either online or in writing. For further information see  http://www.viva.org.uk/campaigns/badgers.”

References

(1) National Day of Action For Badgers, 27th November 2010,  http://www.viva.org.uk/campaigns/badgers/index3.php

(2) Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (2007). Bovine TB: The Scientific Evidence: A Science Base for a Sustainable Policy to Control TB in Cattle: An Epidemiological Investigation into Bovine Tuberculosis  http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/tb/isg/report/final_report.pdf

(3) Pembrokeshire Badger Cull Halted After Appeal, BBC News, 13 July 2010  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10612240

(4) Plans for badger cull approved, The Independent, 13 January 2010,  http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/plans-for-badger-cull-approved-1866628.html
(5) Pemborkeshire Badger Cull Decision Perverse, BBC News, 22 February 2010  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/8525522.stm