Badger cull moves a step closer

A cull of badgers in Wales, in a bid to eradicate bovine TB, moved a step closer today.

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said she had taken the decision to sign and lay the Order to give Welsh ministers the power to issue a cull and/or vaccination of badgers in Wales.

Her move follows a 14-week public consultation which saw 49% of respondents agreeing that a cull could have an impact on TB eradication if carried out alongside cattle measures. Of the 741 respondents 50% opposed the cull.

Ms Jones added that 54% of the respondents were from Wales and, of those, 85% had agreed a cull needed to be considered.

She said it was unlikely a cull would happen before April as more preparatory work needed to be done to decide a pilot area for the scheme.

And Ms Jones said the cull could not happen between January and April as there was a risk of leaving young badgers without a mother.

The minister announced in March that any cull would involve trapping the badgers in cages and shooting them.

The pilot cull would take place in the TB endemic area of North Pembrokeshire, West Wales, over five years, but Ms Jones said she could not be more specific about the area at this time.

She said: "Following the recent consultation on legal powers, and consideration of the responses submitted, I am still of the view that a badger cull in an Intensive Action Pilot Area (IAPA) is necessary as part of our programme to eradicate bovine TB.

"Before I make my final decision on an IAPA, there are further steps which need to be taken.

"I have always said that any cull of badgers could only go ahead when all preparatory work is complete.

"This order is an important step towards completing that work, providing the necessary legal powers for a Welsh Assembly Government-managed cull."