Government under pressure to halt badger cull
03 December 1998
Government under pressure to halt badger cull
By FWi staff
WILDLIFE campaigners are celebrating after winning support from the European Parliament for their fight against the UK badger cull, designed to determine whether the animals pass tuberculosis on to cattle.
The standing committee of the Bern Convention, which protects European wildlife, yesterday voted to press the UK to postpone the cull for at least one year.
Committee members meeting in Strasbourg agreed with wildlife campaigners claims that the UK had inadequately examined alternative methods of controlling TB in cattle before embarking on the badger cull.
Wildlife campaigners estimate 20,000 badgers will be killed if the Government continues with the cull, which began earlier this week in the Putford area of Devon.
The campaigners won support for their claims that the cull is in breach of Articles 7,8, and 9 of the Bern Convention, which requires Governments to ensure the protection of certain wild animals.
“Our legal case arguments were watertight,” said Elaine King, conservation officer for the National Federation of Badger Groups.