IN THIS nation of supposed animal lovers it is too often erroneously assumed that wildlife in general exists in a state of sublime tranquillity.

However, following the Government’s decision that a mass cull of badgers is necessary to overcome the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle, the appalling prospect of such gross cruelty to these much-loved native animals should galvanise everyone who deplores animal exploitation and cruelty to write to their MP, the Prime Minister and Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, demanding acceptance of the conclusion reached by the 10-year scientific trial (1997-2007), at a cost of more than £50m of taxpayers’ money, that “culling can make no meaningful contribution to the reduction of bovine TB”, the main causes of which are the intensive rearing and breeding practices of the farming industry.

Does anyone seriously imagine that the anti-badger brigade will contentedly sit out after dark in the hope of targeting badgers (though some might do it for fun) rather than take the easier option of simply filling in the setts, entombing the badgers underground – a practice well-known to the terrier-men attached to fox hunts, who will ‘stop up’ setts to prevent hunted foxes seeking underground safety from the hounds.

It has been noted that badger-baiting is on the increase; perhaps the baiters feel empowered by this pro-hunting, pro-badger culling Government.

BEA BRADLEY, Cuxham Road, Watlington