Badger cull gets go ahead
The Badger Trust's legal challenge to Defra's plans for targeted badger cull pilots has failed on all three ground in the High Court. Mr Justice Ouseley delivered his verdict on the morning of Thursday 12th July 2012.
The decision was welcomed by both the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA).
Respective Presidents Carl Padgett and Andrew Praill said: “We are pleased that the High Court has ruled Defra’s policy lawful and that the pilot badger culls can now go ahead. The BVA and BCVA believe that the government’s approach has been robust and justifiable as it is based on our current scientific knowledge."
They added: “Bovine TB is a devastating disease and we must tackle the disease in wildlife alongside cattle controls if we are to get on top of it.”
A spokesperson for Defra commented: “We are pleased with the judgement. No one wants to cull badgers but last year bovine TB led to the slaughter of over 26,000 cattle and to help eradicate the disease it needs to be tackled in badgers. We will continue to work with the farming industry so badger control in two pilot areas can start as soon as is practical.”
However, the Badger Trust has released a statement which suggests that is is considering an appeal, saying it would now "study the judgment closely and consider the next steps in its campaign to protect the badger from a pointless cull."
Meanwhile in Wales, the badger vaccination programme is underway, after the Welsh Government chose to opt out of the badger cull - a decision which has met with criticism from the veterinary and farming community.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
