Badger cull may be extended, says Defra
After the six-week badger cull in Somerset officially ended on October 6, Defra's secretary of state, Owen Paterson, has announced that the cull period may be extended in both Somerset and Gloucestershire.
According to a statement from Defra, the pilot cull in Somerset fell short of the target to remove 70 per cent of badgers from the population.
It has been revealed by the secretary of state that 850 badgers have been culled during the six-week pilot in Somerset, just under 60 per cent of the estimated population of 1,450 badgers.
This figure is based on the latest population estimates carried out in September 2012, which also indicated that Gloucestershire had a badger population of approximately 2,350.
The chief veterinary officer (CVO) has reportedly advised that, although short of the target, a 60 per cent reduction in badger numbers this year will provide "clear disease benefits" as part of a four-year cull.
However, both Somerset and Gloucestershire, where culls are still ongoing, have reportedly been sent applications to Natural England requesting an extension of the cull. The CVO is said to have advised that increasing the number of badgers culled will further improve the disease benefits.
Pilot culls in both areas form part of the Government's strategy to rid England of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) within 25 years. Tackling the disease in the badger population is a "key element" in this plan, according to Owen Paterson, and initial culls in the two areas aimed to test the humaneness and effectiveness of the method.
In a statement after the Somerset cull drew to a close, Owen Paterson said: "Current indications suggest that the pilot has been safe, humane and effective in delivering a reduction in the badger population."
One of the lessons learned, he added, was that "in order to ensure high levels of safety and humaneness, the cull period may need to be longer than six weeks in future."
This will be considered by the Independent Panel of Experts, who will assess all the information gathered during the pilot. Mr Paterson says this information will become available to the public after both culls have finished.
The pilot in Gloucestershire continues and a further statement from Mr Paterson is expected at the end of the six weeks.
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