Cull plans in jeopardy after results of new study
Results from a new four year study, undertaken by the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), AHVLA and UK university departments, have revealed that vaccinating badgers can reduce the level of TB within an infected colony by 54%.
Wildlife campaigners have said that the results “shoot a massive hole” in the Government’s policy that claims culling badgers is the only way to stop the disease.
The study also claims that unvaccinated badger cubs within the same social group as the vaccinated adults indicate a reduction in risk to TB of nearly 80% - suggesting that vaccination has a knock-on positive effect within the sett.
Philip Mansbridge, CEO for the wildlife charity Care for the Wild said: "This report must be the final nail in the coffin of the plan to cull badgers. Pro-cull supporters claim that the disease can only be stopped if the so-called reservoir of disease within wildlife is reduced – this study shows that vaccination can achieve this."
"When the coalition government came to power, there were six proposed projects to investigate badger vaccination. They cut the number down to just one – but alone, this report has knocked their cull policy onto its backside.” He added.
"It just proves what we have been saying all along – if you give a humane alternative the same time and attention as you give a policy of slaughter, then you will find a way to beat this disease that everyone can be happy with."
RUMA CA&E has extended the deadline for its online survey into vaccine availability.
