Badger cull statement from International Fund for Animal Welfare

Eminent scientists and wildlife experts as well as many charities, have stated their opposition to this cull because it will not significantly reduce incidents of bovine TB.

Responding to Secretary of State Owen Paterson’s statement in Parliament today, Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW, said: “The Government’s decision not to roll out the pilot badger cull to other areas this year is to be welcomed. However, the threat to roll it out once they make the methods and targets of the current pilots ‘perfect’ is very worrying, as this could be an attempt to bypass science and move the ‘goal posts’ to fit Government policies.

“As the pilots have been proved to be inhumane and ineffective, today’s announcement should have been to cancel these crazy culls. Best policy is always science-led and this simply isn’t.”

“Owen Paterson is not listening to the experts, not listening to MPs and not listening to the public. We will continue to provide resources for vaccinating badgers, scientific examination and urging the increasing number of MPs who oppose this crazy cull to speak out.”

“Every time there is a discussion on the badger cull in Parliament more and more Conservative MPs speak out against the cull. If it continues like this, Owen Paterson won’t even have a majority in his own party to continue killing badgers. We need a binding vote in Parliament before any more badgers are senselessly killed – why won’t Mr Paterson allow one?”
 

Notes to Editors:

For more information or to arrange interviews please contact Amanda Gent at IFAW UK Press Office on +44 (0)207 587 6725, mobile +44 (0)7860 755876 or email agent@ifaw.org or Clare Sterling on +44 (0)20 7587 6708, mobile +44 (0)7917 507717, email csterling@ifaw.org or alternatively visit www.ifaw.org