Strong support for Badger vaccine project
Local MP, Andrew George, met with a small army of volunteers on Thursday to discuss plans for a badger vaccination project in West Cornwall in a bid to tackle the growing problem of Bovine TB in cattle.
More than 40 people attended the meeting and offered their strong support for the initiative.
Mr George said: “A small army of volunteers emerged from this meeting. They are very keen to be involved. The next stage is to speak to local farmers and landowners and then to identify the areas for the project to commence from either later this year or in the Spring of next year.”
Among those who spoke at the event were; Professor Rosie Woodroffe, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Zoology and one of the Government’s Independent Scientific Group experts; Alex Raeder of the National Trust who has run a badger vaccine project for the National Trust on their Killerton Estate in Devon; and Cheryl Marriott, a specialist project manager for the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Representatives from FERA (Food and Environment Research Agency – the Government’s agency which is advising Defra on its Bovine TB strategy) have also been consulted.
Mr George added: “I am delighted that so many people are keen to become trained and licensed volunteers to assist in a vaccination project. Some have done so already. It certainly won’t be easy and could not proceed without the cooperation and support of local farmers and landowners.”
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