The USPCA, Ulster Wildlife, and Northern Ireland Badger Group have joined forces to launch a petition which opposes a proposed badger cull as part of a bovine TB eradication strategy.
A strategy from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) favours the introduction of an indiscriminate badger cull.
Yesterday, the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA), Ulster Wildlife, and Northern Ireland Badger Group visited Stormont to formally launch a petition which opposes DAERA’s proposals.
Speaking at the launch, Brendan Mullan, Chief Executive of the USPCA, said" Four out of five badgers in Northern Ireland are healthy and there is therefore no justification for an indiscriminate cull.
"The slaughter of healthy badgers as outlined in the consultation document is unjustifiable and morally wrong," he said.
"If a wildlife intervention is to be part of the strategy, it should follow a test, vaccinate or remove approach, which has been shown by DAERA’s own research project to be effective".
Mike Rendle, from the NI Badger Group, said: "We are appealing to the public to join us in challenging the cull of healthy badgers, as outlined in the consultation document, by signing our petition today and also sharing their views via the online consultation.”
The public petition can be accessed at www.uspca.co.uk or www.ulsterwildlife.org