Environment Secretary asked to put a stop to potential Derbyshire badger cull

Environment Secretary asked to put a stop to potential Derbyshire badger cull

(c) Andrew Parkinson

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and partners have written a letter to Theresa Villiers, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to demand she puts a stop to the badger cull coming to Derbyshire. A decision could be made by the Government as early as tomorrow, and the cull could arrive in Derbyshire in September.

The letter details the scientific evidence against the cull and that already vaccinated badgers might be shot.  It has been supported by Chris Packham, Dominic Dyer, CEO of the Badger Trust, Bill Oddie and Simon King.

The Government themselves have awarded £280,506.76 of funding to the scheme since 2015 and therefore there is a great risk that taxpayers’ money may be wasted through a cull arriving in the county.

Since the badger vaccination programme started in 2014, the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust have vaccinated over 637 badgers.  With the help of over 100 volunteers, 16 trained lay vaccinators and some great partners,  it is the largest volunteer led programme in the country.

The Government wrongly believe that culling badgers can help stop to spread bovine Tb in cattle.  Scientific evidence is clear, that culling badgers can actually make the situation worse.

You can read the letter by clicking the link below.

Letter to Theresa Villiers