The e-petition gained over 106,000 signatures.
On Monday 21 March 2022, MPs will debate an e-petition relating to badger culling, 'Ban the shooting of badgers immediately'.
Started by animal welfare organisation Wild Justice, the petition has gained over 106,000 signatures.
The petition states: “Shooting of Badgers is licensed by Natural England as part of the DEFRA Badger cull. 24,000+ Badgers were shot in 2019.
“Shooting is poorly monitored and Wild Justice believes it has never met the animal welfare standards recommended by a 2014 Independent Expert Panel, whose recommendations were accepted by DEFRA. This method of culling is inhumane and should be banned immediately.”
In its response, the Government said: “Natural England carries out compliance monitoring and ensures that each cull company has suitable arrangements and plans in place to carry out an operation that is safe, effective and humane.
“NE’s Chief Scientist advised that marksmen continued to show high levels of discipline and compliance with the Best Practice Guide in 2019.
“The level of accuracy of controlled shooting continued to compare favourably with the range of outcomes when other control activities, currently accepted by society, have been assessed.”
Taking place in Westminster Hall from 4.30pm, the debate will be opened by Nick Fletcher MP, and Jo Churchill MP will respond for the Government.
Lasting for up to 90 minutes, the debate will be available to view live on Parliament TV and YouTube.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
