Badgeritis

A hidden war has existed for the same reason for 30 years. It exists because of threat of disease and, in some minds, to end suffering. I would like to say it's a war on TB (tubercle bacillus); however, over the past 30 years a mass culling of badgers has been the governments solution to preventing Bovine TB. The disease carrying badgers have been found to spread TB to cattle. This matters to the UK public because it costs the UK Budget around £100m a year.

A general consensus of people when asked 'what do you think of when you think of badgers?' of course they responded, 'black and white?' 'little fat things?' However, many would reply, 'scrappy and vicious'. Badgers have unfortunately culminated an ignorant image of simply being little creatures to avoid like the plague. In this instance they certainly should be avoided because of their plague. But it is easy to forget that they too suffer the burden of the disease. TB is a terrible disease that I would not wish on my worst enemy. TB affects organs and because it is so difficult to treat, TB kills almost 50% of it's victims

Between 1975 and 1982 4,000 Badger Setts were gassed with a powder that releases hydrogen cyanide. It seemed a brash and bold decision, but was considered the most 'humane' method of culling. In fact it seemed to possess a military efficiency, and disposed of 10,000 badgers out of the 30,000 that have been culled to date.

The debate raged over the term humane. A humane death would insist on a quick and thorough death. Equally, the fact that many of these badgers were suffering from the terrible pain of TB, it can be considered the kindest option. However, a study that coincided with the gas culling campaign proved that the concentration of gas used was not enough to end the badgers' lives quickly without causing some kind of suffering. The Culling operatives thus conceded to using more brutal methods of cages and traps, and finally shooting the badgers to death.

Our interpretation of humane has always seemed obscure and normally can be sourced to which option is the cheapest option. However, it would be foolish for me to be so defensive of the badgers' plight without defending the plight of the bovine farmer. They suffer great losses of cattle from bovine TB and their panicked retort to supporting badger culling can only be assumed as a natural response. This is expected when the government speaks of humane culling and scientific research as the most effective form of culling.

"I do believe this is a science-led policy," said Professor Bob Watson, Ms Spelman's chief scientific adviser.

But how can we deny that it appears more of a thuggish, trial and error procedure.Trial and error in the sense that the Department for the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Fisheries and Food need to find a balance with culling efficiently and also preventing public uproar. Saying that it is a "..science-led policy," patronises the publics intelligence. It is political and economical practice that drives this attempt to prevent Bovine TB.

If the main aim is to find a more humane method of culling then surely the injectable vaccines that have proven long-term effectiveness are the simple answer. The government should subsidise the farmers expenses on vaccination and more training should be given towards biosecurity.

We must move beyond this primitive fear of infected badgers. You could compare the Government and Media's scaremongering with ancient Folklore:

'Should one hear a badger call, And then an ullot cry, Make thy peace with God, good soul, For thou shall shortly die. So, according to this bit of folklore, if you hear a badger call, then hear an "Ullot" (an owl) hoot, you are not long for this world!' 

Badger culling is not necessary in a time of such technological sophistication, especially when the medical solutions can be employed so effectively; without excuse I might add. Too many people associate the disease with badgers. It is important to disenfranchise the two and remember the war is on TB. Badgers are a shy and night dwelling animal, with a distinctive unpredictability about them. They live a peaceful life, so let's leave them to it.