Hundreds protest over badger cull

FIVE hundred environmental campaigners and conservationists turned out for a march to express their opposition to Government-sanctioned badger culls.

The peaceful rally - co-organised by the Warwickshire Badger Group - took place on Saturday in Stratford.

Among the speakers was Dominic Dyer, chief executive of the Badger Trust and policy adviser for the international charity Care for the Wild.

The event, one of a series across the UK, was attended by campaigners young and old and was hailed a huge success by organisers.

Badger culls have come under prolonged criticism in recent months. Campaigners say two trial culls, which failed to kill the targeted number of badgers, cost the UK taxpayer £2.6million in policing costs alone, and the total costs so far have been estimated by Care For The Wild at around £7million, or more than £4,000 per badger killed.

Mr Dyer said: “What this and other events around the country prove, is that the power of people makes a difference. Amidst what is turning out to be one of the most expensive and unjust wildlife culls in history, the caring and compassionate side of Britain is coming out in opposition.”

“Ten years of Government research shows us that culls aren’t the answer and could make the disease worse. In the interests of wildlife and the farming community we want the Coalition to follow expert advice and public opinion, and beat TB through better testing, increased bio-security, tighter controls over cattle movements, and vaccination; first for badgers and then ultimately for cattle. We want to build a firewall to protect these badgers for years to come.”

Lydia Hocking, who organised the rally with help from Badger Group, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people turn out to demonstrate their opposition to the coalition government’s badger culls. People from all generations proved that badgers really do have friends and that a large public majority are against the culls.

"Let’s hope the Coalition government takes notice of this overwhelming public feeling.”

Share This

Regional news »