RSPCA: Brian May meets Somerset residents to fight the badger cull
Somerset residents were out in force at the weekend to join Team Badger campaigners including rock star Dr Brian May to protest impending plans to kill thousands of badgers in England.
Around 250 people concerned about the Government’s potentially devastating badger cull which could start in less than eight weeks, and its potential effects on tourism, joined a meeting in Taunton, Somerset on Saturday evening (April 22).
Speakers joining RSPCA vice-president Dr May included RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant, Steve Jones, a retired dairy farmer leading the Not in this farms name campaign, and Dr Mark Jones from Humane Society International.
RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant said: “It was inspiring to see so many Somerset people come out to voice their opposition to this senseless slaughter of our wildlife, and for their determination to stop it.
“It is not only the badgers of Somerset who are at risk, but the cows too. Science has shown that killing badgers is not the solution to bovine TB in cattle.
“We believe vaccination of badgers, and in due course, of cattle, is the way forward to properly and humanely combat this horrible disease, so it was brilliant to hear about local groups which have already begun vaccination programs and others who plan more.
The RSPCA has long campaigned against plans for a widespread badger cull for both scientific and welfare reasons. The weight of scientific, political and public opinion is with us. We sympathise with farmers dealing with the problems of the devastating disease, but know a cull would be of little help in eradicating bovine TB in cattle, and could even make it worse in some areas.
Badgers were given a temporary reprieve last autumn when the planned cull was postponed, but the Westminster Government has since announced that its ill conceived plans will now go ahead in areas of Somerset and Gloucestershire this summer – possibly as early as June, with Dorset as a reserve area.
For more information about how you can help the campaign to stop the badger cull please visit: http://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/campaigns/wildlife/badgers
Notes to editors
Please call the RSPCA press office on 03001230288 or email press@rspca.org.uk for more information, RSPCA interviews or images of the event.
If you would like an interview Brian May, please contact Save Me organisation.
Team Badger is a coalition of several animal welfare groups working together to ‘Stop the Cull’. It includes the RSPCA, Brian May’s organisation Save Me, and the League Against Cruel Sports .
RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099
Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 08448 222888 and ask for pager number 828825
Email: press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk
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