Thermal imaging cameras to prevent badger cull marksmen

Marksmen could be prevented from targeting badgers in a cull by thermal imaging cameras, according to campaigners against the cull.

Local badger campaign group, Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting (GABS), raised £3,600 at their Badger Ball over the Bank Holiday weekend. The event was held to raise both funds and awareness for their efforts to stop the continued culling of badgers in Gloucestershire.

“The night was a fantastic success," said Jeanne Berry, one of GABS' founder members.

"The Ball was over-subscribed with both local people and supporters from across the country attending. Thanks to the amazing generosity of those donating auction prizes and those buying them we made a huge contribution towards our fighting fund in a matter of minutes."

Those attending heard speeches from Dominic Dyer, CEO of the Badger Trust, and Pauline Kidner of Secret World Wildlife Rescue centre, who both confirmed that they and a host of other national charities will continue to fight to stop any further culling.

"The extra funds will help us with our Wounded Badger patrols when the cull comes back to the county this summer," continues Jeanne Berry, "Our numbers are increasing all the time so this year our efforts will be bigger and bolder, but more importantly we will now be able to purchase thermal imaging equipment to make sure we don't miss those badgers dying out of plain sight in the bushes. Equally, we'll be able to see exactly where the gunmen are, which is very important for our own safety as the government have refused to provide any monitoring of the cull for safety, humaneness or even it’s effectiveness."

GABS is still hoping that the cull will be cancelled before it starts following planned legal challenges and continued opposition in Parliament. "If that succeeds then we will put all our efforts and money into helping farmers vaccinate their badgers instead," concludes Jeanne Berry, "Either way, we will not let this inhumane, ineffective and politically motivated cull go ahead without doing everything we can to stop the pointless slaughter of Gloucestershire's badgers.”