In October 2013
badger culling was introduced in the UK to two areas to pilot the scheme and to
test whether it is safe. For those who do not know, badger culling was
introduced to reduce the spread of the disease Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) which
can be spread to humans and other animals. There is still no UK wide policy for
badger culling but this will probably be determined after the pilot schemes.
West Somerset and West Gloucestershire were the chosen areas and since then
these schemes have been put into action and badger culling has been underway.
Since October, the Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has not produced great
results. Both pilots have been extended as there were not enough badgers culled
within the original 6 week period which was initially agreed in Parliament.
Owen Paterson has also been accused of using unethical tactics in order to push
through the culling reform. There is uproar from scientists that longer culls
mean that badgers have longer to flee; therefore they would be spreading the
bTB further. The counter argument for this is that more badgers in the area
would be killed overall. Alongside the reform and parliamentary disagreements,
animal welfare groups including RSPCA and the Badger Trust are fighting that
badger culling is unethical and feel that it is a random slaughter of badgers.
To an extent it is easy to agree with this opinion, as you may just hear the
words animal and shooting and not agree. However in reality, badgers lead the
risk of spreading bTB disease to not only your animals such as your dogs, cats,
cattle etc. but also to yourselves. Can we allow this risk?
Personally I believe
that badgers need to be culled. I’m very much aware that not all badgers are
carrying the disease, but the risk for me personally is much higher than caring
about the welfare of badgers. The risk to humans has not been considered as
significant just yet, but to our animals it is. Letting your cat or dog roam
around in your garden is all it takes to come into contact with badgers urine
or excrement. For me, I care far more for my animals rather than badgers that
quite frankly can also be violent and aggressive.
Many people also
argue that the way in which badgers are culled (being shot at by marksmen) is
bad. Again, this is the most cost effective and fastest way to cull. It’s quick
and is over within seconds for the badger. Any other form of killing that had
been recommended would have cost more money or would have taken far longer to
kill the same amount of badgers. Moreover this system does have regulations
which are followed very strictly. Even though England allows ‘free shooting’
(anyone with a firearm) for the culling, these marksmen need to hold a licence
to cull badgers. These licences ensure that applicants have the skills and
resources to cull efficiently and humanely. This is both an effective and safe
system.
For me, it’s an
obvious choice. I don’t believe that badger culling is either unethical or
cruel. It could either be that badger in your garden or your dog. I know what’s
more important to me and honestly, if more people came forward to be marksmen,
more badger culling can happen. Say no to Bovine Tuberculosis and yes to badger
culling!
I know that a lot of
people might not agree with me but I’d like to know if you do and if you don’t,
can you give me a reason to believe that it’s wrong to cull badgers?
What do you think
about the spread of disease?
J
