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Minister plans pilot badger cull | Minister plans pilot badger cull |
(10 minutes later) | |
A "targeted cull" of badgers has been announced as part of a plans in Wales to eradicate tuberculosis in cattle. | A "targeted cull" of badgers has been announced as part of a plans in Wales to eradicate tuberculosis in cattle. |
The location of the area and details of the cull have yet to be decided. | The location of the area and details of the cull have yet to be decided. |
The welsh Assembly Government's plan includes a one-off test of all cattle and a review of the compensation system, rural affairs minister Elin Jones announced. | The welsh Assembly Government's plan includes a one-off test of all cattle and a review of the compensation system, rural affairs minister Elin Jones announced. |
Wales' chief veterinary officer said bovine TB was out of control and the current policy was not working. | Wales' chief veterinary officer said bovine TB was out of control and the current policy was not working. |
In a briefing on Tuesday, Christianne Glossop said incidents had increased dramatically over the last decade. | In a briefing on Tuesday, Christianne Glossop said incidents had increased dramatically over the last decade. |
Compensation payments to farmers have risen from £1.3m in 1999-2000 to £15.2m in 2007-2008. | Compensation payments to farmers have risen from £1.3m in 1999-2000 to £15.2m in 2007-2008. |
Farmers have long blamed badgers for spreading bovine TB but animal groups say evidence does not support this. | Farmers have long blamed badgers for spreading bovine TB but animal groups say evidence does not support this. |
Announcing her decision to AMs in Cardiff Bay, Ms Jones said: "This is a difficult decision to take and it has not been taken lightly. | |
"I am very aware of the strong views on this issue." | "I am very aware of the strong views on this issue." |
Ms Jones said she had given "due consideration to the divergence of scientific and political opinion" on the matter. | |
"I want to make it absolutely clear that the badger remains a protected species in Wales and the conditions of the Badger Act are firmly in force. Illegal action will not be tolerated," she said. | |
The test zone would need to be in an area with hard natural or manmade boundaries, she added. | |
Ms Jones also said there would be a one-off test of all cattle herds in Wales to assess the extent of infection. | |
It means testing about an extra 4,657 animals or 35% of herds in Wales. | |
She said she wanted to reform the compensation regime for farmers whose infected cows were slaughtered to "encourage herd owners to comply with legal and best practice requirements". | |
Last year 7,905 cattle were slaughtered in Wales, up from 669 in 1997. | |
Ms Jones said it would cost more than £30m by 2012 if it grew at the present "unsustainable" rate. | |
Deep divisions | Deep divisions |
There has been limited badger culling before but to eradicate all badgers within a defined, geographical will be the first time in Britain that such a wide-scale measure has been used to control the disease. | There has been limited badger culling before but to eradicate all badgers within a defined, geographical will be the first time in Britain that such a wide-scale measure has been used to control the disease. |
Under the current policy cattle are slaughtered if they fail routine tests, with farmers who lose cows compensated. | Under the current policy cattle are slaughtered if they fail routine tests, with farmers who lose cows compensated. |
Many farmers say badgers are to blame for infecting their herds and want a widespread cull. | Many farmers say badgers are to blame for infecting their herds and want a widespread cull. |
Unions, NFU Cymru and the Farmers' Union of Wales have welcomed the plans unveiled by Ms Jones to take a proactive approach to controlling bovine TB in Wales. | |
But conservationists have urged the Welsh Assembly Government to reject the proposal, saying badgers are being wrongly victimised for an illness brought on by modern, intensive farming. | But conservationists have urged the Welsh Assembly Government to reject the proposal, saying badgers are being wrongly victimised for an illness brought on by modern, intensive farming. |
Steve Clarke from the Badger Trust Cymru said a 10 year study concluded that culling badgers would make no meaningful contribution in controlling TB amongst cattle. | Steve Clarke from the Badger Trust Cymru said a 10 year study concluded that culling badgers would make no meaningful contribution in controlling TB amongst cattle. |
There was badger gassing from 1975, after a bovine TB outbreak in Dorset, until 1982, when badgers became a protected species. | There was badger gassing from 1975, after a bovine TB outbreak in Dorset, until 1982, when badgers became a protected species. |
There was some trapping and shooting in the 1980s, until trials were held over the last 10 years to look at the evidence for the likely effect of culling. | There was some trapping and shooting in the 1980s, until trials were held over the last 10 years to look at the evidence for the likely effect of culling. |
The coalition deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru in the Welsh Assembly Government has led to a commitment to attempt to eradicate TB in cattle, with £27m being allocated over the next three years for this purpose. | The coalition deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru in the Welsh Assembly Government has led to a commitment to attempt to eradicate TB in cattle, with £27m being allocated over the next three years for this purpose. |
Conservative rural affairs spokesman Brynle Williams AM said the announcement would be welcomed by farmers. | Conservative rural affairs spokesman Brynle Williams AM said the announcement would be welcomed by farmers. |
"Clearly there will be opposition from wildlife groups to these proposals," he said. | "Clearly there will be opposition from wildlife groups to these proposals," he said. |
"However, this decision comes after a lengthy, comprehensive inquiry by the assembly rural affairs committee." | "However, this decision comes after a lengthy, comprehensive inquiry by the assembly rural affairs committee." |