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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Minister plans pilot badger cull | Minister plans pilot badger cull |
| (1 day later) | |
| A "targeted cull" of badgers has been announced as part of a plan in Wales to eradicate tuberculosis in cattle. | A "targeted cull" of badgers has been announced as part of a plan 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. |
| 'Protected species' | 'Protected species' |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | Ms Jones said it would cost more than £30m by 2012 if it grew at the present "unsustainable" rate. |
| There has been limited badger culling before but it will be the first time in Britain that such a wide-scale measure - within a defined area - 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. |
| Deep divisions | Deep divisions |
| 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. | 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. |
| Trevor Lawson for Badger Trust Cymru said the assembly government had "cherry-picked the scientific evidence which suits the powerful farming lobby in Wales". | Trevor Lawson for Badger Trust Cymru said the assembly government had "cherry-picked the scientific evidence which suits the powerful farming lobby in Wales". |
| "It is hard to imagine a more naive and short-sighted political decision than killing badgers," he added. | "It is hard to imagine a more naive and short-sighted political decision than killing badgers," he added. |
| "It is a tragic day for Welsh wildlife that will have negative repercussions in the rural economy for years to come." | "It is a tragic day for Welsh wildlife that will have negative repercussions in the rural economy for years to come." |
| 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." |