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An Broc No: 23 Spring 2001: The Badgerwatch (Ireland) newsletter.
(Affiliated to the Irish Wildlife Trust, 107, Lower Baggot St. Dublin 2. Ireland. Associate member of the National Federation of Badger Groups (United Kingdom)
Sharp shooters from the Irish Army are on standby to cull or quarantine wildlife (including badgers) in the vicinity of any outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease FMD. Duchas, the National Parks and Wildlife Service will take charge of the emergency containment plan which was drawn up early in March. Wildlife in the vicinity of the infection will be assessed and "appropriate action" taken immediately. We're told that the action, which can take place at the drop of a hat (even faster than it took Duchas to magically change the wire badger snare to a restraining device) will include teams of riflemen from the Army Rangers. While we fully acknowledge the effects of FMD and its consequences, this is drastic action for wildlife who may be caught up in this potential disaster. Dare anyone voice an objection on their behalf. We've seen it and heard it all before. For far too long badgers have been at the wrong end of the .22 rifle for offences not of their making. They will always be the soft target. Our badgers have been listed in the past as possible reservoirs for cattle TB . In the awful event of FMD surfacing in the Irish Republic, will this disease also be added to the list? At the end of the day will we still have the small army of animal smugglers, the removers of ear tags and the perpetrators of the countless scams which appears to have long infested the agri-industry on this island? Such a measure of wildlife control has been rejected (so far) in Britain after leading experts in the fields of Agriculture and wildlife management advised that such a measure could merely exacerbate the problem of FMD by the dispersal of wildlife who may be potential carriers into clean areas. This makes sense. Having Army and Duchas personnel, moving from farm to farm, identifying setts, setting snares and returning to shoot the occupants and disposing of carcasses, can certainly be counter-productive. Distressed by this new disturbance, some wildlife (and there will always be the snare-shy ones) will certainly flee, possibly carrying the virus from the infected area to a clean locality. At the time of printing, Ireland remains free of FMD. It goes without saying presently that all activities of badger-watching and sett monitoring be totally avoided. Badgers and foxes are not susceptible to the disease but, like any other animal and human, may be carriers. The virus may live for up to 14 days on fur, clothing and footwear. Our sympathies are with the farming families who have worked hard and obeyed the rules. We can only pray that all be spared the affliction of having FMD visited upon them. Update on Irish Government's badger culling strategies: Unfortunately the plight of badgers failed to make the agenda of the 20th Standing Committee of the Bern Convention held Nov/Dec 2000 in Strasbourg. Complaints for the next session of the Standing Committee will be lodged before September 2001. Badgerwatch is hoping to attend this session. The Irish Government in compliance with the 1999 Bern Convention request, submitted an annual report through the Department of Agriculture (Report of the Department of Agriculture Food & Rural Development on Meles meles in Ireland.) This report was accompanied by an annexe from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Submitting such annual 'progress' reports on its research programme into Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle and badgers, at least puts our Government in a situation of accountability. The report is worth looking up and if you've got access to a computer it can be found on www.nature.coe.int We will deal briefly with some of the issues. The Report dealt with the following issues: Reviewing the question for a closed season for capture and removal of badgers. Reviewing the capture methods involved. Ensuring that the control of badgers does not result in its disappearance in the areas involved. Progress on the research programme on bovine TB infection in cattle and badgers. Part of this dealt with the use of the Gamma-interferon Test. It is used to compliment the comparative skin test in problem herds. Wider use is planned for next year. Badgerwatch is awaiting details of the level of testing by this method for the years 1999 and 2000. Research for the development of a badger vaccine continues. Review the need for a closed season for snaring and removal of badgers. The DOA, have reviewed capture methods and according to the report have found no evidence to support a hypothesis that other methods provide a better welfare benefit. Indeed! The capture of badgers by use of the indiscriminate wire snare remains a barbaric practice which should have been outlawed long before now. The renaming of this lethal weapon to a 'restraining device' changes nothing. Badgerwatch finds it unacceptable that the present means of capturing badgers be allowed to continue. By pursuing this method of capture, it would appear, Ireland is in breach of Article 8 of the Bern Convention.
Local disappearance of badger populations: Badgerwatch believes that snaring was due to get under way early in 2001. On 15/12/00 we forwarded the first of the emails to the DOA for information on the following: The number of cattle TB tested by the Gamma- interferon blood test in 1999 and 2000 To inform Badgerwatch of the date of the PPF badger removal project in 2001. Despite a follow -up with more emailing pleas, faxes and 'phone calls we have not received the relevant information from the DOA. We have been informed however, that due to the present crises of FMD all badger snaring operations have been suspended.
*The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. (PPF)
February brings little joy to our badger nation: Badgerwatch was able to identify the snares by their markings as being Department of Agriculture property. On a Monday morning we wondered if these snares had been set on a Friday or Sunday evening? How often had they actually checked? There are many questions regarding this incident that need answering. Here we had a badger sett surrounded by half a dozen snares apparently fixed in position by the men from the DOA. This is a legal operation (sadly) and we presume the necessary licences were in place. Who had actually disturbed this sett? What had been the fate of the remaining litter of cubs or other badger inhabitants? Had illegal badger-diggers merely stumbled across this sett accidentally? How convenient. It is probable that they worked under the cover of darkness with their powerful lamping equipment. Maybe a sow badger had been out worming and missed the diggers. On returning she may have witnessed the destruction of her home and the killing of her offspring before she was caught in the deadly snare. Badgerwatch believes that hundreds of cubs die underground from starvation at this time of the year when nursing sows have been snared by the DOA or the cubs may be killed when they emerge from the sett looking for mother. This badger family was doomed from the start, one way or the other. The men from the 'Department' would be back that very evening and the snares would remain in situ to fulfill their dubious duty. Snaring we're told usually continues in any one location over a period of about ten days. Badgerwatch has often stressed the fact that the Department of Agriculture through its policy of snaring, frequently leaves the snared animal abandoned in a state of extreme risk. A snared animal is indeed a soft target for the scum who get their kicks from abusing wildlife. Its long past time that our so-called protected badgers + their offspring were at least afforded the luxury of a closed season from persecution (of the legal variety, at least) to relieve pressure on the species through their breeding period.
************************************** The National Federation of Badger Groups (NFBG) 10 January 2001 welcomed the Agriculture Committee's new report on bovine TB in cattle. The report is a damning critique of the government's complete lack of direction and indecision in finding a sustainable solution to the problem. "We are grateful to the MPs for recognising the fact, that despite its claims to the contrary, the Ministry of Agriculture is really only interested in killing badgers. "Dr. King continued, "This is a grave warning to Ministers and we urge Nick Brown and Baroness Hayman to think more strategically and constructively about this issue." "The NFBG, together with many other organisations, has provided a series of coherent recommendations which we believe would be effective in controlling bovine TB in cattle and would be acceptable to both farmers and the public. We now look forward to working with Ministers to see these recommendations implemented as a matter of urgency." Key points in Agriculture Select committee report:
Indecision:
Lack of direction:
Future policy:
Statistics in culling trial:
Animal welfare:
Trial:
Badger RTA survey (road traffic accident):
Cattle husbandry:
TB 99 questionnaire:
TB Forum:
Vaccine: The National Federation of Badger Groups (NFBG) today (7 February 2001) condemned Nick Brown, Minister for Agriculture, for considering killing more badgers. Mr. Brown today told the NFU's (National Farmers Union) AGM that he was considering their request to kill badgers beyond the existing Krebs trial cull of up to 20,000 badgers. Dr. Elaine King, Conservation Officer for the NFBG, said "Mr. Brown has been told by all of Britain's leading nature conservation and animal welfare groups that such a course of action is unnecessary and unacceptable. It is also opposed by Mr. Brown's advisors in the Independent Scientific Group. "Yet the Minister has been considering the NFU's request for more than six months, despite this coherent opposition. He must cease prevaricating and reject the NFU's shameful proposal." "The longer the Minister considers the proposal, the more farmers will be encouraged to think that culling badgers will solve their problems.""Britain's small and family farmers need practical help that's good for wildlife, good for cattle welfare and - most importantly - acceptable to the public. The mass extermination of badgers will only deepen the public's growing distaste for intensive agri-business and its products." ************************************** Press Watch............Press Watch............Press Watch............Press Watch............ Bishop caught in hunting controversy (Ireland on Sunday.) Dara Defaoite 24/9/00. The Bishop of Clonfert, Rev John Kirby, is to review the use of his land by the Galway Blazers Foxhunt during its annual foxhunting season after wildlife on his Loughrea estate was maliciously interfered with. Bishop Kirby was alerted to a deliberately blocked badger sett, where up to 20 badgers once lived, by Duchas, the wildlife and heritage service, after a complaint was lodged by a local man and former hunter. "I wasn't aware that there were any badger setts on my land and, until this controversy arose, I had no way of knowing about it one way or the other," said the bishop. "I am concerned and will have to take a look now at how the land is being used by the hunt and local farming interests," he said. The blocked badger sett, where 11 of the 12 entrances were deliberately closed, was brought to the attention of Duchas by former hunt member and retired farmer, Tom Hardiman. Hardiman pointed out that it was tactic within the hunting fraternity to practise "earth-stopping" so that the hunted animal wasn't allowed the opportunity to go to ground. Bishop Kirby stated that he didn't suspect it had anything to do with hunting on the land "but may in fact be farmers who see badgers as a threat to livestock, with the risk of tuberculosis." "Predecessors of mine never had a problem with the Blazers, but now a case has been made and I'll just have to look at it," said Dr. Kirby. "When I initially gave permission 12 years ago, I specified that there was to be no digging out of any fox once it went to ground and that dens or setts were not to be closed," he said. A spokesman for the Galway Hunt which used to hunt the land for 40 years told Ireland on Sunday, "There was no way we interfered with any badger sett and we are looking forward to meeting the Bishop regarding the issue." Hardiman has launched a public campaign against his former hunt, stating that he was "so appalled by the cruelty meted out to the fox over the years, that he had to speak out." He told Ireland on Sunday that he was infuriated after the Department of Agriculture referred a complaint he made against the Galway Blazers to the Hunting Association of Ireland (HAI) for investigation. "This association is an umbrella group for the hunting fraternity, so the Government has effectively allowed these people to investigate themselves," said Hardiman. The HAI replied to Hardiman's complaint last month, stating: Allegations in your letter could not be substantiated and it has Been recommended that no action be taken against the Galway Blazers Hunt." Bishop Kirby commented: "It appears somebody has closed a number of the badger setts on the land and I will now be looking into the matter further. The land is let to a tillage farmer. I'm not a rural person and I don't know whether they are opened yet, but I will be leaving it in the hands of Duchas and the authorities," he said. *************************************** 20% of TB scourge is caused by 'bought-ins' Ann Fitzgerald Farming Independent 12/10/01 Bought-in cattle are potentially causing over 20% of all TB breakdowns, the Department of Agriculture is claiming in support of its push for the reintroduction of a pre-movement TB test. The figures were presented at last week's Animal Health Forum meeting which focused on the new TB and Brucellosis regimes. The farming bodies report some progress from the meeting but say the two sides are poles apart. A further meeting, chaired by Dept. Of Agriculture secretary John Malone, is due to take place today. Many of the key issues under discussion are still unresolved. These include the pre-movement test, the proposed increase in disease eradication levies, the valuation ceiling (which has now been increased to (£1,800), the income supplement and the conditions relating to full market value. In its examination of the role of bought-in cattle on disease restrictions, the Department looked at the period from March 1 - May 31, 2000, during which the total number of breakdowns was 2,261. Half of all breakdowns - 1,129 - were due to singleton reactors, of which 188 (16.7%) were clearly identified as caused by bought-in cattle. This "clear indication" refers to where the original herd was found to have TB afterwards. In addition, in a further 65 cases (5.8%), bought-in cattle were a potential source. Thus, bought-in Cattle potentially caused over 22% of all singleton breakdowns. Of the 1,132 multiple breakdowns, 150 (13.3%) were clearly identified as being caused by bought-in cattle while a further 84 cases (7.4%), bought-in cattle were deemed to be a potential source. Thus the bought-in cattle caused over 20% of all multiple breakdowns. Overall, the figures blame bought-in cattle for possibly 21.5% of all breakdowns - almost 15% were firmly identified and the other 6.5% as a potential cause. ************************************* Farmers Convicted over TB deceit Irish Times 1/12/00 Two Co. Cork farmers received suspended prison sentences and were fined yesterday when they appeared at Macroom District Court charged with injecting slurry into cattle, so as to alter the accuracy of TB testing. William O'Brien (50) of Lehanagh, Carrigadrohid Cork, was charged with five offences including possession of a syringe, possession of a container of liquid slurry, administering an unauthorised animal remedy and carrying out a process affecting the accuracy of TB testing. Michael Kelleher (38) of Upper Mount Massey, Macroom, was charged with two accounts of affecting TB testing in three cattle. A Dept. Of Agric. veterinary inspector, Mr. Brian Flaherty, told Judge James O'Connor that as a result of information received he and colleagues went to O'Brien's farm on February 8th 1999. They saw O'Brien injecting three cattle in the neck. The cattle were held by Kelleher in a cattle crush. They seized a syringe as well as a container of liquid slurry and when the men were confronted they admitted what had been going on. The purpose of their action, Mr Flaherty said, was to gain compensation under the TB eradication scheme. Under this scheme O'Brien was due to collect £29,000 through grants, but these monies were now forfeited. Both men pleaded guilty. Judge O'Connor said he had no doubt they deserved substantial prison sentences. What they had done was despicable and had caused great inconvenience to the State, the taxpayer and neighbouring farmers whose cattle had to be restricted. There was also the very serious health threat to consumers if the affected meat had got into the food chain as well as the pain and suffering caused to the animals. Judge O'Connor sentenced O'Brien to four months' imprisonment on the charge of carrying out a process that could affect TB testing, but suspended the sentence on condition that he pay £1,000 to the court's poor box and £250 to the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. On a second similar charge he fined the defendant £750 and £750 towards the State's costs. A fine of £500 was imposed on the charge of possessing a container with liquid slurry, £350 relating to the possession of a syringe and £250 relating to the charge of administering the substance to an animal in order to affect TB testing. On the first of three similar charges concerning tampering with the accuracy of a TB test, Kelleher was sentenced to two month's imprisonment, suspended on the condition that he pay £600 to the poor box and £250 to the ISPCA. On the second charge he was fined £400 and ordered to pay £250 towards the State's costs. A fine of £250 was imposed for the third charge. *************************************** Some Conservation/Wildlife WEBSITE:s of interest: Foxwatch Ireland www.homepage.eircom.net/~foxwatchireland Irish Wildlife Trust www.iwt.ie National Federation of Badger Groups (UK) www.nfbg.org.uk Irish Council Against Blood Sports www.banbloodsports.com Council of Europe (Bern Protected Species) www.coe.int Earthwatch www.iol.ie/~foeeire Birdwatch Ireland www.birdwatchireland.ie Wild Ireland www.wildireland.ie Irish Peatland Conservation www.ippc.ie Duchas The Heritage Service www.heritageireland.ie SubscriptionName.................................................... Postal Address................................... Order/Cheque/Bank Draft (tick) .................................................... Individual membership....... £5. ....................................................... Family......... £15 Tel. No. ................................................ Donation............(Optional) E-MAIL::.................................................. Please include SAE for receipt if required. Send to: Badgerwatch (Ireland) 5, Tyrone Ave., Lismore Lawn WATERFORD Ireland. Expect next copy of An Broc in September 2001 ************************** Badgerwatch (Ireland) c/o 5, Tyrone Ave., Lismore Lawn, Waterford city Tel/fax 051373876 barrettb@gofree.indigo.ie |
