Defra's Wildlife Health Strategy, or Excuse Tactic
The announcement that defra is to set up a "Wildlife Health Strategy" looks according to the initial report "Defra Unveils Wildlife Strategy" as a way for the government to keep an arms length between them and the problem. Call me cynical, I know, but the comment from the chief vet Nigel Gibbons just has that feel about it. We need to see some evidence of assistance on the government side.
If only Defra and the government could treat the disease issues the way that Sir Don Curry suggested Set-Aside should be reintroduced in a recent 5th June FW Article. There should be more carrot and less stick.
Farmers do not want to kill wildlife. Most now understand the benefits they can bring with keeping the general public onside. However suffering of any kind by any animal is not acceptable and farmers just get frustrated that nothing is being done to prevent that suffering to wildlife except kill innocent livestock.!!!!!