The Government has announced controversial plans to introduce a major badger cull in England to tackle TB in cattle.
The RSPCA said it was a "black day for badgers", claiming the scientific case to support the mass slaughter of the animals had not been made.
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman acknowledged there was "great strength of feeling" about the issue but told the Commons: "I believe this is the right way forward." More consultation will be carried out before any mass cull is allowed but the Government plans to carry out a pilot in two areas.
The Secretary of State said badger control licences would be issued by Natural England under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 to enable groups of farmers and landowners to reduce badger populations at their own expense.
If controlled shooting was found to be effective and humane, the policy could be introduced throughout England. Scotland and Wales set their own policy as disease control is a devolved issue.
Mrs Spelman hoped that her announcement would send a clear message to the farming industry, saying: "If culling is ultimately authorised, we will look to the farmers involved to show that they take their responsibility very seriously, and that they are committed to delivering culling effectively and humanely."
David Bowles, director of communications for the RSPCA, said: "This is a black day for badgers - a day we have been dreading. At a time when the Welsh Government has stepped back from a cull, the Government in England is slowly shredding its own animal welfare credentials."
The RSPCA said vaccination of badgers, increased levels of testing, improved biosecurity and stricter controls on the movement of cattle were more effective ways of eradicating bovine TB in cattle for good.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said nearly 25,000 cattle were slaughtered in England last year because of bovine TB, which cost the country £90 million.
The problem is particularly bad in west and south-west England, where 23% of cattle farms were unable to move stock off their premises at some point in 2010 due to being affected by the disease.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/badger-cull-combat-bovine-tb-030634161.html
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