Badger Protection
Badger trust to appeal against Judicial Review decision
Wednesday 5th May 2010
To: Directors, Affiliated Groups, Additional Contacts
Subject: Judicial Revaiew Judgment – Appeal
Dear Friends,
I am writing on behalf of the Board to say that we have given careful consideration to the Judgment received and have discussed this with our legal team and other parties closely involved with the Judicial Review. We have also taken note of the financial implications.
Our decision is that we shall ask for permission to appeal and will follow that process through as far as we are able. We can only appeal on legal points and not on factual matters. However, as an organisation we believe in the scientific argument relating to bovine TB and do not believe that the unnecessary killing of badgers will have a significant impact on its control, therefore we feel bound to re-open the debate on relevant legal matters. Our solicitors have been instructed accordingly.
We feel that as the charity dedicated to the conservation, welfare and protection of badgers we shall gain support from having the courage of our convictions. Public support is growing daily as more and more people become aware of the imminent slaughter in Wales. The cost of taking this action has been assessed and a number of people/organisations have indicated that they will do all they can to give financial help. Badger Trust itself also needs to continue to appeal for public donations but it is noticeable that the greater the publicity, the more new supporters and donations we attract. We hope to be able to manage the costs without asking our Groups for further donations. I know you will all support us in other ways and at the AGM all Directors present felt that if we had asked you then whether we should continue with the fight, you would have voted in favour.
We will keep you informed of progress as and when we are able to do so.
Best wishes,
Dave Williams.
Badger Trust is the only charity solely dedicated to the conservation of badgers across Great Britain.
PO Box 708, EAST GRINSTEAD, RH19 2WN
Tel: 08458 287878 Fax: 02380 233896
E-mail press@badgertrust.org.uk
Registered charity no.1111440
Company registered in the UK No.5460677
To help try and protect the badger against digging and baiting, various laws have been passed.
As far back as 1835 badger baiting was banned.
In 1992 ‘The Protection of Badgers Act’ came into being, making it illegal to cruelly ill-treat a badger, and giving protection to the badger’s sett, making it illegal to damage or destroy or allow a dog to enter one. On conviction a person can be imprisoned for a term up to 6 months and / or given a fine up to £5,000.00
Problems Facing Badgers
Diggers: it is estimated that abour 10,000 to 20,000 badgers die each year at the hands of diggers. This is a considerable problem in Dyfed West Wales.
Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire [Dyfed] attract diggers from the South Wales to add to the problem of local diggers. This is a cruel and brutal so-called ’sport’ where terrier dogs are put into a badger’s sett while people dig out the badger. The badger is then attacked by larger dogs who savage it until it’s death.
What You Can Do About Diggers
Anyone seeing someone with spades and dogs, who wishes to help, should either call the RSPCA or ring one of the numbers below.
Lampeter: Gordon Lumby 01570 480571
Whitland: Mike Sharratt 01994 240320
Do not approach the diggers, but if possible, take the number of their vehicles.
REMEMBER If you see diggers on a sett … ring the police on 999
Badger caught in careless snare
Posted 27 August, 2010
Careless Snare
THE BODY of a young female badger has been found in Onesacre, Oughtibridge after suffering what animal welfare experts say was ‘a prolonged and horrific death’.
The badger was found dead entangled in a fence after being trapped in a homemade snare. RSPCA inspector Damien Woolliscroft said ‘After becoming trapped in the snare it looks like the badger has attempted to get over the fence to get away. Instead, she’s found herself tangled in it, thrashing around for who knows how long, the snare becoming tighter and tighter. She must have suffered a great deal.’
Although the snare seems to be legal, it certainly appears to have been set illegally. This type of ‘free-running’ snare can be used legally but with strict conditions, one being that they must not be set where there is a likelihood of capturing protected species. Codes of Practice also maintain that the snares should never be attached to fences as this increases the risk of entanglement and injury.
Woolliscroft adds “Whoever set this snare caught something they shouldn’t have and could therefore have broken the law. As it happens they’ve trapped a badger, which is a protected species, but it could have been a dog or a cat. And worryingly, another snare has been found nearby,”
The badger was discovered by a member of the public who contacted the RSPCA and the local badger group. A spokesperson from the South Yorkshire Badger Group said ‘ What’s happened here is a bit of a mystery. Badgers have been quite welcome in Oughtibridge and live happily as part of the community. The use of snares is quite common in areas where game keeping and shooting birds is popular, and that isn’t really the case here. Badgers in the wider North Sheffield area have suffered badly from snaring and poisoning over the years but this is the first incident I’ve heard of in Oughtibridge. It’s a bit of a blow.’
Damien Wolliiscroft stated ‘this was a prolonged and horrific death and we want to hear from anyone who knows who is setting these snares before another animal is caused to suffer so dreadfully.’
Anyone who has any specific information should call the RSPCA on 03001234999.