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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Bright Eyes writer's rabbit cull | Bright Eyes writer's rabbit cull |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The composer who wrote the famous theme music for Watership Down has ordered a cull of rabbits on his Surrey estate. | The composer who wrote the famous theme music for Watership Down has ordered a cull of rabbits on his Surrey estate. |
| Mike Batt's land near Farnham was inundated by hundreds of rabbits which nibbled wires and piping. | Mike Batt's land near Farnham was inundated by hundreds of rabbits which nibbled wires and piping. |
| Mr Batt, who hired a marksman, took advice on the most humane method of control. "It seems that dead rabbits are the story of my life," he said. | Mr Batt, who hired a marksman, took advice on the most humane method of control. "It seems that dead rabbits are the story of my life," he said. |
| An RSPCA spokeswoman said that shooting could be a humane method of killing, depending on the skill of the marksman. | An RSPCA spokeswoman said that shooting could be a humane method of killing, depending on the skill of the marksman. |
| Mr Batt wrote Art Garfunkel's international number one single Bright Eyes which featured on Watership Down. | Mr Batt wrote Art Garfunkel's international number one single Bright Eyes which featured on Watership Down. |
| 'Regretted cull' | 'Regretted cull' |
| He also enjoyed success with eight hit singles and four gold albums with The Wombles. | He also enjoyed success with eight hit singles and four gold albums with The Wombles. |
| Mr Batt, who has lived on the land for 12 years, said: "There was a nice population of rabbits for many years, but a few years ago it seemed to double and double again." | Mr Batt, who has lived on the land for 12 years, said: "There was a nice population of rabbits for many years, but a few years ago it seemed to double and double again." |
| He said that, although rabbits had a "lovely cuddly" image, in agricultural terms they were a huge pest and had been "literally everywhere" on his land causing considerable damage. | He said that, although rabbits had a "lovely cuddly" image, in agricultural terms they were a huge pest and had been "literally everywhere" on his land causing considerable damage. |
| Mr Batt said he had very much regretted having to cull the rabbits and had hired a marksman because shooting was more humane than other methods. | Mr Batt said he had very much regretted having to cull the rabbits and had hired a marksman because shooting was more humane than other methods. |
| He recalled how, as a child, he had see the suffering endured by animals caught in traps, adding "snares are horrible things, I would never put a snare out". | |
| He stressed that, out of hundreds of rabbits, a relatively small number, perhaps 12, had been killed, adding that the rest of the animals seemed to have taken the hint and left his land. | He stressed that, out of hundreds of rabbits, a relatively small number, perhaps 12, had been killed, adding that the rest of the animals seemed to have taken the hint and left his land. |
| 'Crop damage' | 'Crop damage' |
| Natural England said rabbits have established themselves again as "the major vertebrate pest of British agriculture", causing "serious crop damage". | Natural England said rabbits have established themselves again as "the major vertebrate pest of British agriculture", causing "serious crop damage". |
| A spokesman from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said rabbits might need to be controlled in areas where they caused a problem but it was vital that any control work was carried out in a safe and humane manner. | A spokesman from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said rabbits might need to be controlled in areas where they caused a problem but it was vital that any control work was carried out in a safe and humane manner. |
| The RSPCA said there was no evidence that shooting a few rabbits would mean the rest moved on, however they might be more wary for a while. | The RSPCA said there was no evidence that shooting a few rabbits would mean the rest moved on, however they might be more wary for a while. |
| Mr Batt is currently director of a management company and record label which has signed Katie Melua, Jem and French first lady Carla Bruni. | Mr Batt is currently director of a management company and record label which has signed Katie Melua, Jem and French first lady Carla Bruni. |