GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO
18 December 2015 by Robin Jenkins
Wildlife lover Brian May has spoken of his disappointment at the government saying badger culls this year were a success.
The Queen guitarist and founder of the anti-animal cruelty Save Me Trust said:
“We are all hugely disappointed that the Government has decided to defend its cull policy, and use selected data to justify further roll out. The badger cull has been a disaster and has cost British taxpayers over £5,000 per badger, worse still, with only 20 of 1,467 animals tested this year, it is certain that most of the murdered badgers are perfectly healthy and free of bovine TB. The badger cull policy is a tragedy for our farmers, cattle and wildlife. The scientific advice has been ignored by ministers with even more badgers now set to die again next year.”
Gloucestershire, along with Somerset and Dorset, were badger cull areas this autumn.
The trust said West Gloucestershire saw 432 badgers killed, based on a target of 265 to 679 – 63.65 per cent of the maximum target.