shodan
23-10-2007, 06:12 PM
They roll this one out every so often in the UK, another attack on our wildlife and countryside.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUKL2331756120071023
LONDON (Reuters) - Badgers need to be culled to tackle tuberculosis (TB) in cattle, the government's Chief Scientific Adviser said on Tuesday, in a reversal of the existing official position.
Sir David King indicated that plans to start a cull would be approved within months.
King, who will give evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee on Wednesday, supported badger culls in areas which had a "high and persistent" incidence of TB in cattle.
Government scientists previously have rejected calls from farmers and vets for a cull in a bid to arrest the disease.
Badgers are a wildlife host of bovine TB, which has become a serious problem for Britain's livestock producers, particularly in southwest England.
While most strains of the disease are harmless to animals and humans, some forms can lead to leprosy, Johne's disease and avian bird flu.
A recent report by the farm ministry's Independent Scientific Group concluded that "no practicable method of badger culling can reduce the incidence of cattle TB to any meaningful extent and several culling approaches may make matters worse."
A cull is strongly opposed by wildlife groups such as the Badger Trust and the animal welfare charity RSPCA.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUKL2331756120071023
LONDON (Reuters) - Badgers need to be culled to tackle tuberculosis (TB) in cattle, the government's Chief Scientific Adviser said on Tuesday, in a reversal of the existing official position.
Sir David King indicated that plans to start a cull would be approved within months.
King, who will give evidence to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee on Wednesday, supported badger culls in areas which had a "high and persistent" incidence of TB in cattle.
Government scientists previously have rejected calls from farmers and vets for a cull in a bid to arrest the disease.
Badgers are a wildlife host of bovine TB, which has become a serious problem for Britain's livestock producers, particularly in southwest England.
While most strains of the disease are harmless to animals and humans, some forms can lead to leprosy, Johne's disease and avian bird flu.
A recent report by the farm ministry's Independent Scientific Group concluded that "no practicable method of badger culling can reduce the incidence of cattle TB to any meaningful extent and several culling approaches may make matters worse."
A cull is strongly opposed by wildlife groups such as the Badger Trust and the animal welfare charity RSPCA.