Badger cull

After 4 years in England I've still not seen a live badger (although I've seen quite a few roadkill) and if the government has its way, I may never see one.

That's because badgers carry bovine tuberculosis, and last year 26,000 cattle in England had to be slaughtered after contracting the disease.

A nine-year trial showed the spread of the disease could be slowed *slightly* if more than 70% of badgers in an area were eradicated. But it also found that if less than 70% were killed, the spread of TB could *increase*. (I don't understand it, I'm just reporting it.)

The alternative is to vaccinate the badgers, which is only 50% to 60% effective. The Welsh government opted to vaccinate while the English decided to cull. (Scotland is officially TB-free.)

Needless to say, there was a huge public outcry against the cull, leading to at least two years (and no doubt millions of taxpayer pounds) in legal challenges, but the court finally gave the go-ahead this year in two counties.

Except now there's a problem: It appears badger numbers are higher in Gloucestershire and Somerset than previously thought. A government spokesman said, "It would be wrong to go ahead if those on the ground cannot be confident of removing at least 70% of the population."

Brian May, guitarist for Queen who has campaigned against the cull, said, "Let's be very clear: this is a scientifically flawed, ethically reprehensible, economically unjustifiable and reckless policy that needs to be abandoned, once and for all."

The government insists it will do the cull next year.