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The primary cull zones had been created in 2013 in Somerset and Gloucestershire
Badger culling may double this yr regardless of information that it might be phased out and changed with a cattle vaccine, in accordance with campaigners who say they’ve seen a leaked doc.
In March, Defra introduced vaccine trials in a bid to deal with bovine TB.
Final yr, about 35,000 badgers had been killed however the Badger Belief stated a leaked doc confirmed plans to cull as much as about 64,500 this yr.
Defra stated it had not granted any cull licences this yr.
The chief govt of the Badger Belief, Dominic Dyer, stated the leaked doc, which the BBC has seen, was “positively correct, positively genuine – I’ve seen some of these paperwork earlier than”.
It mentions Oxfordshire, Cheshire, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Cumbria, Avon, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, with authorisation dates set from 1 September.
Defra stated it didn’t touch upon leaked paperwork and has not but responded to a BBC request about whether or not it was at the moment contemplating any cull licences.
Farmers consider culling is critical to regulate the illness that devastates the meat and dairy industries, however opponents say it’s inhumane and ineffective.
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A proposed badger cull in Derbyshire was rejected by the federal government final yr which the Excessive Courtroom heard concerned Carrie Symonds
“Culling is supposed to be a management coverage, it is more and more trying like an eradication coverage,” stated Mr Dyer.
“It is a huge enhance within the variety of animals being killed.”
He added it was additionally a “important shift in authorities coverage”.
A proposed badger cull in Derbyshire was rejected by the federal government final September.
In April, the Excessive Courtroom heard the choice got here after Boris Johnson’s companion Carrie Symonds met Mr Dyer in Downing Avenue.
In July, Defra stated trials of cattle vaccines had been beneath manner in England and Wales and could be held over the subsequent 5 years.
It added it additionally had plans to vaccinate extra badgers towards the illness in a bid to eradicate it by 2038.
‘No-kill different’
Badger vaccinations are already being trialled by wildlife charities in areas together with Derbyshire and Oxfordshire.
Julia Hammett, chair of Oxfordshire Badger Group, stated the “no-kill different” was supplied free by the group to landowners.
“If the federal government had been to put money into our programme as a substitute of investing tens of millions of kilos in culling we may develop this service to extra landowners who’ve expressed an curiosity in vaccinating badgers on their land,” she stated.
An replace on the federal government’s vaccine technique is anticipated to be printed within the autumn.