Tens of thousands of cows are dying of bovine tuberculosis in Great Britain. Badgers are thought to be carriers of the disease. That is why the animals are being culled. A well-known musician wants to change that.
Queen guitarist Brian May (77) is campaigning for badgers. “The fact that I speak out against the culling of badgers is now just as important to me as the music,” May told the BBC. According to the Badgers Trust organization, more than 230,000 badgers have been killed in England since 2013. The animals are considered to be carriers of bovine tuberculosis, which kills tens of thousands of cattle every year.
For a TV documentary by the broadcaster, May and a research team investigated the transmission of bovine tuberculosis. “Bovine tuberculosis is transmitted from cow to cow and is due to inadequate hygiene conditions,” said the prominent animal rights activist.
“Everything happens within the herd.”
May, who has a PhD in astrophysics, and the researchers found that the pathogen was present in large quantities in cattle faeces, which can contaminate the animals’ feed and water. “In the past, biosecurity meant keeping the badgers away, but now it means keeping the manure away from the cows so they can’t infect each other,” said Sir Brian. “It all happens within the herd.” Some experts, however, stressed that badgers do play a role in transmission.
The badger hunting licenses expire in 2026. Despite criticism from nature and animal rights activists, the new social democratic government does not want to bring forward the deadline set by its conservative predecessor. May blamed the instructions of the Ministry of Agriculture. According to them, the culls are “useful”. “Unfortunately, this advice is wrong and needs to be updated,” said May.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
