Badgers and Prince Charles: latest revelation

LPC · #1 14-05-2015, 10:42 AM

I have nothing personally against Prince Charles. However, where it affects animals it concerns me that he has expressed views which are at best questionable.

Apparently, he tried to influence Tony Blair when he was PM to have a cull of badgers. See http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-32731604

In view of the fact that the Prince is a subsidy-receiving farmer, that is no great surprise. However, the evidence about TB being spread by badgers to cattle is far from proven, with cattle mostly passing it to from one herd to another via markets and cattle movements around the country. The real answer would be a "lock-down" until eradication was achieved, annual vet checks on all flocks and more research into an effective vaccine for cattle. But the farmers and politicians would never agree to that. That would cost them money (and votes). It is easier to blame it all on the badgers.

The evidence from Scotland, however, shows that the "blame badgers" argument just doesn't hold. See http://www.brianmay.com/brian/letter...N-SCOTLAND.pdf

knightofalbion · #2 14-05-2015, 01:11 PM

The evidence from the Republic of Ireland doesn't hold up either, because their infamous cull was done simultaneously - without a control - with restricted cattle movements and a new, more accurate method of testing for bovine TB.

They (the Republic of Ireland) achieved an even bigger drop in incidence of bovine TB in the 1950s. And this without any badgers being killed.

knightofalbion · #3 14-05-2015, 01:18 PM

And Prince Charles - what a hypocrite! He had an outbreak of bovine TB* on his Highgrove Estate. Needless to say, the local badgers got the blame and they - all 20 of them, a large long-established sett - were destroyed.

As is the custom, they were tested, post-mortem, for TB. Of the 20 the number with TB was 0. All perfectly healthy and completely innocent.

* This was BEFORE he sent that letter.

Tobi · #4 14-05-2015, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knightofalbion

And Prince Charles - what a hypocrite! He had an outbreak of bovine TB* on his Highgrove Estate. Needless to say, the local badgers got the blame and they - all 20 of them, a large long-established sett - were destroyed.

As is the custom, they were tested, post-mortem, for TB. Of the 20 the number with TB was 0. All perfectly healthy and completely innocent.

* This was BEFORE he sent that letter.

Very disappointing and shows he has not thought this through. Obviously some proper thinking would be the order of the day on Highgrove Estate!
But I suppose the huntin' fishin' shootin' brigade can't quite drop the old ways yet.....
Even though they are in a position of responsibilty, and often show great intelligence when it comes to new ideas....

MIND POWER · #5 14-05-2015, 07:35 PM

That's Good old British Royalty for you.

And to think we pay them.