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Friday, 22 September 2017

UP TO 33,500 BADGERS TO BE SHOT IN THE AUTUMN CULL

The government has announced that more licences have been issued for the shooting of up to 33,500 of the nationally protected badger. Contrary to the imformation of the past 5 years culling which is being cherry-picked to make it look as though the cull is working it is a shambles. Badgers have as many as 10 setts so if you kill at one sett they just move off to another and you end up chasing them around the countryside until your licence runs out. The cost of culling 1 badger runs into several thousand pounds, the cost per head for vaccination is just £84. Vaccination is being undertaken by private donations through Wildlife Trusts and similar organisations and it works. While shooting at night could injure or kill innocent animals or even people.
This imformation was obtained from THE GUARDIAN Published 11 September 2017.
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10 comments:

  1. Ana Mínguez Corella26 September 2017 at 18:34

    Hi Mike!!!.. Fantastic shots of this lovely creature.. Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mike Attwood26 September 2017 at 19:45

    Thank you Ana, a beautiful animal and one of the cleanest wild creatures. How on earth they can be blamed for the spread of such a terrible disease beats me.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Richard Pegler5 October 2017 at 09:31

    It saddens me enough when, all too frequently, I see a Badger that has become a road accident. To cull these magnificent creatures is an unneccessary abomination - it brings me to tears.

    I could sit and watch them all night long, and when I took a Canadian friend who is a dedicated worldwide birdwatcher to see them one night he subsequently declared that it was the highlight of his UK vacation - even if I did find him a number of 'lifer' birds!!

    Never give up hope, and keep up the pressure - one day the sensible solution will be adopted.

    Best wishes - - - Richard

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood6 October 2017 at 00:12

      Thank you for your thoughts Richard. I saw my first badger when I was about six (now in my eighties) I was enchanted then and I have recorded many encounters since and I hope I have many more to come. Take care, Mike.

      Delete
  4. Phil Slade22 October 2017 at 08:40

    Unfortunately the farming lobby has more sway with the authorities tahn the conservation lobby. As ever in these matters, money and influence count for everything. As it happens, Badgers are not all that common around here and it is quite an occasion to see one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike Attwood23 October 2017 at 11:13

      Thanks Phil, We have badgers all over Sussex and I know several farmers but no BTB. Makes one think.

      Delete
  5. ort31 October 2017 at 17:37

    Sad announcement, once again, the desire to kill animals can more than a wise decision thought and calculated, as would vaccination

    ReplyDelete
  6. Mike Attwood31 October 2017 at 23:46

    Hi Tomas, Not heard from you in a while. The killing of badgers I cannot understand. Years of study tell that the government is wrong and science is correct.
    Best wishes, Mike.

    ReplyDelete
  7. David M. Gascoigne,12 December 2017 at 23:42

    Sound science never swayed bureaucratic decisions!

    ReplyDelete

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Mike Attwood - Photographer

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About Me

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Evacuated during the second world war to a village in Yorkshire where I lived in the home of a good photographer for more than five years who taught me the basics and a great deal about nature. Well past retirement age I have been a wildlife photographer for more than 30 years. Red Kites have been my speciality for much of this period. I did spend several years snapping wheelchair athletes and organizing the British Road Race Championship. In the year 2000 I was awarded a distinction by the Royal Photographic Society for my portfolio on wheelchair athletes. Most of my pics are digital, using Sony cameras and Sigma lenses. I used to spend many weeks each year with friends in Wales which is close to the Elan Valleys where I got many of my raptor pics. I now get these pictures more closely to home, specially red kites and peregrines. I support my pension by selling my pics, cards, coasters, fridge magnets and key rings etc. at craft fairs, something I wish I had done much earlier in life. I give illustrated talks to clubs and societies on wildlife and other branches of photography that I have been involved in.