Badger Protection
Several legislative measures protect badgers. According
to certain strict laws, badgers cannot be trapped, killed
or persecuted deliberately. Licenses are needed even
to handle the badgers that cause trouble. From 1835,
the cruel sports of badger baiting has been outlawed.
The Badgers Act of 1973 offered limited protection against
badger digging. However, it was completely outlawed
in 1981. In 1992, The Protection of Badgers Act was
introduced thereby consolidating all the earlier laws.
In view of protecting the badgers, through this law,
damaging, destroying or obstructing badger setts were
announced as a serious offence.
Motivated by the interest to safeguard these poor creatures,
enthusiasts have formed more than 80 local groups in
view of protecting and researching about badgers. The
activities of these groups include protecting badgers
from diggers and baiters, arranging for the rehabilitation
of the badgers, adding tunnels and badger proof fencing
to newly constructed roads and advising the developers
with respect to the badger setts.
More particularly in the southwest region of England,
some badgers are affected by bovine tuberculosis. The
role of badgers in spreading cattle TB is still under
debate and in some areas, infected badgers are subjected
to government sponsored control campaigns. However,
following a ten year research on this issue, the recent
research reports released by Governments Independent
Scientific Group in June 2007 rule out badger culling
as an appropriate measure to control cattle TB. They
have suggested some alternative measures of cattle-based
control measures. Therefore, in the recent future, government
sponsored badger-culling may also come to an end.
If you happen to spot someone digging for badgers,
without approaching them, you can note down their car
number and inform the police or the RSPCA. Since most
people who dig for badgers can be equipped criminals,
it is always better to safeguard yourself in the process
of reporting it to the police. On safety grounds, it
is not advisable to manage the issues on your own.
These days, more people are successfully prosecuted
for badger baiting in addition to animal cruelty. Apart
from the effective exercising of law, more people are
becoming concerned of this cruelty and are raising their
cry against this evil. In addition, animal lovers and
the Police Wildlife Officers are exercising appropriate
measures to ensure that the criminals who target these
poor creatures just do not get away evading the scene.
Looking from several angles, there are positive signs
all around assuring better protective measures to save
these poor but marvelous creatures.
|
|
