By Pallab Ghosh Science
correspondent, BBC News
28 March 2017
A senior researcher has
accused the UK government of using "fake science" to justify its
policy of culling badgers to control cattle TB.
Prof Rosie Woodroffe has
told BBC News that ministers were creating an "illusion" of success
to justify the policy.
Ministers say their
approach is supported by government scientists and leading vets.
When evidence is being
cherry-picked and presented in the best possible light it ceases to be
evidence. It is fake scienceProf Rosie Woodroffe, ZSL
Prof Woodroffe, a
wildlife expert at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) who carried out the
scientific assessment of culling badgers to control Cattle TB on which the
current policy is based, said the government risked losing trust on how it used
evidence - not just on its policy on controlling cattle TB but also on other
important scientific issues.
"When evidence is
being cherry-picked and presented in the best possible light, it ceases to be
evidence. It is fake science.
"When it comes to
(other policy areas) such as climate change and bee pollination, issues that
have a big impact on lives and livelihoods of people, it is important that we
can rely on the government to provide good evidence that stands up to
scrutiny."
England has the highest
incidence of TB in Europe and that is why we are taking strong actionDefra
Spokesman
A spokesman for the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which oversees the
badger cull, responded: "England has the highest incidence of TB in Europe
and that is why we are taking strong action to deliver our 25-year strategy to
eradicate the disease and to protect the future of our dairy and beef
industries.
"Badger control in
areas where TB is rife is one part of our long-term plan, which also includes
strengthening cattle testing and movement controls, improving biosecurity on
farm and when trading, and badger vaccination when possible."
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