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Badger cull fails to meet target in Gloucestershire | Badger cull fails to meet target in Gloucestershire |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Fewer than half the target number of badgers were killed in this year's cull in Gloucestershire, Defra has announced. | Fewer than half the target number of badgers were killed in this year's cull in Gloucestershire, Defra has announced. |
Figures released show 274 were culled by shooting or cage trapping in the county. The minimum target was 615. | Figures released show 274 were culled by shooting or cage trapping in the county. The minimum target was 615. |
In Somerset, where 316 was the minimum target, 341 badgers were killed. The six-week cull ended in October. | In Somerset, where 316 was the minimum target, 341 badgers were killed. The six-week cull ended in October. |
Defra said the level of interference by anti-cull activists had been higher in Gloucestershire than in Somerset. | Defra said the level of interference by anti-cull activists had been higher in Gloucestershire than in Somerset. |
'Intimidation' | |
Writing in a statement to the government, Environment Secretary Liz Truss said: "The results in Gloucestershire reflect the challenges of extensive unlawful protest and intimidation." | |
However, Gloucestershire Police said there were only three arrests for criminal offences during the entire period of the cull and most protest activity was conducted lawfully. | |
"All reports made to Gloucestershire Constabulary of intimidation and harassment have been fully investigated and there are no prosecutions pending," a spokesman added. | |
Last year's pilot cull failed to meet its target in both Gloucestershire and Somerset, and an independent panel found the culls were ineffective and inhumane. | |
Five minutes | Five minutes |
The findings from Defra show this year in Somerset 147 badgers were culled by controlled shooting and 194 by cage trapping. | The findings from Defra show this year in Somerset 147 badgers were culled by controlled shooting and 194 by cage trapping. |
In Gloucestershire 166 were shot, and 108 trapped. | In Gloucestershire 166 were shot, and 108 trapped. |
The figures show none of the shot badgers, which were observed by staff from Natural England monitoring the humaneness of the cull, took longer than five minutes to die. | The figures show none of the shot badgers, which were observed by staff from Natural England monitoring the humaneness of the cull, took longer than five minutes to die. |
The report concludes the levels of accuracy achieved in this year's cull were "slightly, but not significantly" improved compared to 2013. | The report concludes the levels of accuracy achieved in this year's cull were "slightly, but not significantly" improved compared to 2013. |
The pilot culls are aimed at testing how effective, humane and safe a cull can be. | The pilot culls are aimed at testing how effective, humane and safe a cull can be. |
Cull supporters blame badgers for spreading TB to cattle. | Cull supporters blame badgers for spreading TB to cattle. |
'Slow start' | 'Slow start' |
Chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens admitted the cull might not lead to the hoped-for reduction of the disease in Gloucestershire. | Chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens admitted the cull might not lead to the hoped-for reduction of the disease in Gloucestershire. |
"The benefits of reducing disease in cattle over the planned four-year cull may not be realised there," he said. | "The benefits of reducing disease in cattle over the planned four-year cull may not be realised there," he said. |
He said that two more scheduled pilot culls, in 2015 and 2016, should continue, and added that culling could be extended into 2017 because of the "slow start" in Gloucestershire. | He said that two more scheduled pilot culls, in 2015 and 2016, should continue, and added that culling could be extended into 2017 because of the "slow start" in Gloucestershire. |
Peter Martin from the Badger Trust said the cull had been a "spectacular failure" in Gloucestershire. | Peter Martin from the Badger Trust said the cull had been a "spectacular failure" in Gloucestershire. |
"We've been sold the idea a cull would solve part of the the problem of TB and it clearly hasn't. | "We've been sold the idea a cull would solve part of the the problem of TB and it clearly hasn't. |
"I think this should be the end now of any future culling. It clearly doesn't work." | "I think this should be the end now of any future culling. It clearly doesn't work." |