Conservationists slam badger report
17 October 2000
Conservationists slam badger report
By FWi staff
CONSERVATIONISTS have accused the Ministry of Agriculture of trying to conceal animal cruelty during the governments controversial badger-culling trial.
An independent report, which MAFF says shows culling is humane, conceals major cruelty blunders, claims the National Federation of Badger Groups.
Elaine King, NFBG conservation officer, said that the report failed to mention that badger cubs can starve when their mothers are killed.
Badgers are culled by MAFF up to 30 January each year, even though it is well known that some dependent cubs are below ground at this time, she said.
Culling resumes on 1 May but this year alone, in one culling area, conservationists rescued starving cubs left to fend for themselves.
“This is a horrific report. It reveals that only one part of the entire operation – the shooting of the badgers – is usually humane,” said Ms King.
“The Ministry has chosen not to enquire about all the other elements of cruelty associated with the trial.”
The report does point out that badgers can suffer and injure themselves while they are trapped in cages – a greater welfare insult than the despatch procedure.
It adds: “Trapping may cause fear, discomfort, frustration, injury and stress over a period of several hours.”
The report also says animals other than badgers are mistakenly trapped, and some injure themselves so badly they die in the traps or have to be killed.
Dr James Kirkwood, the reports author and director of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, was unavailable for comment.
But Ms King said: “We have to thank the auditor for addressing areas outside his remit, and we call upon agriculture minister Nick Brown to justify this shameful state of affairs.”