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More than 19,000 badgers culled in 2017
The culling is part of the government’s 25-year strategy to eradicate bovine tuberculosis.
Government urged to provide “conclusive evidence” that the cull is working

More than 19,000 badgers were culled in 2017, according to new data published by the government.

The figures show that 19,274 badgers were killed by cage trapping and shooting across 21 target areas in Dorset, Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Cheshire, Somerset and Wiltshire.

The culling is part of the government’s 25-year strategy to eradicate bovine tuberculosis, but conservationists argue there is no evidence to suggest that it is working.

Dominic Dyer, CEO of the Badger Trust, said: “After four years spending over £50 million in taxpayer’s money and the deaths of over 40,000 badgers, the government has never been able to demonstrate any conclusive evidence that the policy is working or that it ever will.”

He continues: “The vast majority of badgers killed have been free of the disease. Very few were ever tested and for those that were the government refused to release any figures showing how many had TB. The whole process is not just cruel and inhumane, it is completely indiscriminate.”

The Badger Trust is now calling on the government to provide “conclusive evidence” that the cull is reducing levels of TB in cattle.

The badger cull began in September 2013 in Gloucestershire and Somerset and has since expanded to the other counties. The government said that it achieved its minimum cull number and did not exceed the maximum.

The figures emerged as the government announced more frequent testing for bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Under the new rules, cattle herds in high-risk areas will require six-monthly routine TB testing. 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.