There was some good news today. The proposed cull of badgers in two areas of the UK has been postponed until next summer. This comes on the back of over 160,000 signatures calling for a debate in Parliament (which takes place on Thursday) and increasing evidence that the cull was badly misjudged in terms of cost. The aim had been to cull 70% of badgers in the designated areas in an attempt to reduce the spread of bovine TB. At best this would reduce bTB by 16-17% in cattle; but if anything less than 70% of the badger population was culled then the likely effect would be to increase transmission of bTB through badger displacement as family groups were dispersed by the culling process. 
With shooting about to begin any day now, the postponement is great news but it doesn't mean the threat is over. The government still claims that it intends to pursue the cull policy next year despite massive opposition including a host of leading scientists. But for now the threat is on hold, and the badgers can enjoy a temporary respite.
For more information go to Team Badger and Brian May's Save Me sites.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon EOS 7D.
chthoniid
24 Oct 2012Hmm. It seems an odd sense of priorities to favour domestic cattle over native wildlife. I mean, we have a problem with possums spreading TB in NZ so there, the conservation & agricultural rationales for eradication converge. Possums aren't native. It seems crazy to be considering a cull for this reason for native species
derWandersmann
24 Oct 2012The difficult side of a Parliamentary system.
SittingFox
24 Oct 2012I'm hoping that the real agenda is 'postpone and quietly drop'. But we'll see.
gdare
25 Oct 2012Good news even if temporary. Government is all about money, anyway, but public opinion is a nice push. Or kick in the a** 😛
serola
25 Oct 2012Alway pleasure to hear at least some good news
Words
26 Oct 2012Chthonid, the whole thing is highly politicized. None of the scientists involved in earlier trials are supporting the current proposals. It's bad science, bad economics, and bad for wildlife. Even the best estimates say that the number of infected cattle will rise even if the cull were successful (which is highly doubtful). The answers are in bio-security measures and vaccination. We have a vaccine for cattle (the BCG we use on humans) but the problem is that the Tb tests show positive for infection and vaccination and hence the meat can't go to market under European law (even if you know it's a vaccinated animal). So we need legal changes and alternative tests (which are now being developed. Culling is never going to be the solution, but the Tory leadership are somewhat in thrall to farming lobbies.
Words
26 Oct 2012Sami, it does make a change. I'm not really surprised. The arguments for a cull were being torn to pieces on a daily basis by every major scientist in the field.
Words
26 Oct 2012Darko, this one doesn't even make financial sense. It's barmy.
Words
26 Oct 2012Adele, I suspect you're right. Let's hope they finally see sense.
Words
26 Oct 2012dW, I think we will eventually see this one off. If they try to resurrect the proposals the campaign will be just as fierce next time.