To read Welsh statement / I ddarllen ein safbwyn yn y Gymraeg, cliciwch yma
RSPB Cymru is sympathetic to the impact bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and the current control measures have on cattle farming in Wales. We recognise it causes considerable distress for farmers to lose their stock and has financial impacts for individuals and the taxpayer. It is important, therefore that effective measures are found to address the disease and to break the cycles of infection.
RSPB Cymru’s Director, Katie-jo Luxton said, “We welcome the Welsh Government’s decision not to pursue a wide-scale cull and support an evidence-based approach to address the disease. We caution that further monitoring is required as opting to ‘trap and test’ badgers and euthanize infected ones may have unintended consequences. Previous studies have indicated that badgers may move to colonize areas where others have been removed and in doing so risk spreading the infection. Therefore, the impact of euthanizing infected badgers must be fully understood to ensure that control measures don’t actually make things worse.”
As the evidence shows badgers are the direct source of only 5.7% of bTB outbreaks, it’s also important to maintain a focus on addressing the majority of outbreaks which are as a result of cattle to cattle infection through appropriate cattle testing and establishing effective biosecurity measures on farms.
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