There is a high probability that the badger culls that took place in Somerset and Gloucester last year could come to Dorset in 2014. It is the firm opinion of local group Dorset for Badger and Bovine Welfare (DBBW) that the culls were totally unjustified and will fail to create a reduction in bovine TB (bTB) in cattle which was ostensibly the governments aim for the cull.
In short, bTB is a disease endemic to cattle which passed onto our native badger population as dairy and beef farming methods became more intensified. There is no scientific evidence to suggest a cull of badgers will be an effective solution to the control of bTB in cattle. On the contrary, Lord Krebs, respected science adviser to the government said of the proposed cull “I would go down the vaccination and biosecurity route rather than this crazy scheme that may deliver very small advantage, may deliver none.”
DBBW fully support badger vaccination as a viable alternative to culling. To support this effort we are asking the local councils of Bournemouth and Poole to disallow the culling of badgers on land they own and to support vaccination as an alternative.
There are separate petition for Poole and Bournemouth and we would urge residents to take a moment of their time to sign these petitions to protect our precious wildlife.
The links to the petitions are as follows:
Poole:
Operation Badger: Bournemouth Branch
Please sign both petitions (and share with friends and family) as we need over 1,500 signatures by mid April for the issue to be discussed at the council meetings.
Thank you very much for your support. If you would like to find out any more information regarding this issue or would be willing to spend some of your spare time volunteering for this cause please check out the DBBW website at dorsetbandb.org or drop us an email at [email protected]
