September 11, 2017

expert reaction to natural england granting licenses for badger control (culling and vaccination) to take place in 11 new areas in england

Experts react to news that Natural England has granted  licenses for badger control to take place in 11 new areas in England.

Prof Lord John Krebs, Emeritus Professor of Zoology FRS FMedSci, University of Oxford, said:

“The Government’s own analysis of the pilot culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset show that there has been no benefit so far in reducing TB in cattle.  At the same time the Welsh Policy of no culling but stronger biosecurity is working, and the Irish Government has said it will stop culling as it is not sustainable, yet the English Government is persisting with its pointless and misguided policy.”

* https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bovine-tb-controlling-the-risk-of-bovine-tb-from-badgers

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-authorisation-for-badger-control-in-2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-authorisation-for-supplementary-badger-control-in-2017

Declared interests

None received.