Yet another problem has arisen with the controversial badger cull, which has already attracted intense criticism from scientists, animal welfare groups and others for being a complete waste of time.
Using the Freedom of Information Act, an animal welfare group has thwarted attempts from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to hide the fact that the culls are not being monitored properly.
It seems only a tiny proportion of the badger shootings will be monitored to ensure they are being carried out as humanely as possible. Only 120 of the 5,000 shootings planned are guaranteed independent observers – just 2.4%.
This is simply not acceptable. If DEFRA insists on going ahead with these useless culls, the very least it can do is ensure they are performed with the minimum of brutality.
Tell DEFRA to get its act together and monitor all the shootings.
We the undersigned ask that you make immediate arrangements to ensure that all badger shootings in England and Wales are overseen by independent observers to ensure that they are carried out in the most humane manner possible.
Leaving aside the fact that the culls are not expected to have any significant impact on bovine TB and they are, in fact, a complete waste of money, monitoring less than three percent of shootings shows a worrying disregard for animal welfare.
If the government is going to continue wasting tax payers’ money in this fashion, the very least it can do is ensure that best practices are followed, and this means sufficient independent observers to monitor every kill.
Please take action to remedy this appalling laxity as a matter of urgency.
Thank you for your attention.
