Badger culls have long been a hot topic on many lips, but not on those responsible for government policies it seems.
With the extravagant figures of the cost of the pilot culls being released last week, it’s no wonder politicians are being tight lipped about the issue.
£4000 is the cost of one dead badger. Over £7million is the cost of 2013’s pilot culls. Tax payers’ money is being spent on a project that is not meeting quotas.
The average city worker, I expect, will not be too impressed with this revelation. Hard earned cash being wasted on country issues that do not directly affect day to day lives.
Ongoing repercussions of the bovine TB crisis of course would inevitably affect us all; if we had a pandemic of the disease, milk and beef prices would soar and be difficult to obtain.
The government has not necessarily attempted to cover up the stats or refrained from publishing them. They are there for all to see if you can find them. The keyword here is ‘find’.
DEFRA is clear about its commitment towards a bovine TB policy, but direct address of problems and costs in terms of culling alone has been reluctant and limited.
Charities claim that Wales as a country has decreased bovine TB cases by 48% but England by merely 12%. The answer to why we are not using the Welsh strategies as an example is beyond me.
Broadcaster Chris Packham said:
“The badger cull is a disaster.”
With high profile names like Mr Packham and Brian May on the case, it should surely be at the top of the environment sector agenda. Farmers are being consulted and focused on in the fight against bovine TB but wildlife charities, not so much.
Protests and marches are being staged peacefully on a national scale but how loud do voices need to be to be heard?
Badger Trust CEO and Policy Advisor for Care for the Wild Dominic Dyer said:
“We’re telling the government that there is no justification for going on with this policy – it must stop now.”
The public is hopeful for change with the impending General Election, but I very much am waiting for expectations and hopes to be dashed.
megrosefisher 