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Welfare of culled badgers: trap-related injuries
Journal
Animal
Welfare ,
Volume 14 ,
Issue 1 , February 2005 , pp. 11 - 17
Authors
R Woodroffe ,
FJ Bourne ,
DR Cox ,
CA Donnelly ,
G Gettinby ,
JP McInerney and
WI Morrison
Abstract
For over 25 years, European badgers (Meles meles) have
been subject to culling in Britain in attempts to limit the spread of
tuberculosis (TB) to cattle. As part of a far-reaching evaluation of the
effectiveness and acceptability of badger culling as a TB control measure,
this paper assesses one aspect of the welfare of badger populations
subjected to culling: the risk of badgers confined to cage traps prior to
despatch becoming injured as a result of rubbing or biting on the cage. In
a large-scale field trial, 88% of badgers received no detectable injuries
as a result of being confined in the trap. Of those that were injured, 72%
received only minor skin abrasions. A minority (1.8% of the total)
acquired damage to the teeth or jaws that may have caused serious pain.
Although trap rounds were commenced in the early morning, badgers were no
more likely to sustain injuries when they remained in traps until later in
the day. Coating of cage traps, intended to give the wire mesh a smoother
surface, was associated with a reduction in the incidence of minor skin
abrasions, although it may have slightly increased the frequency of less
common but more serious abrasions. Modification of the door design reduced
tooth damage. Traps will be further modified if appropriate. However, all
aspects of the conduct of trapping operations must balance badger welfare
with concerns for the health and safety of field staff
Keywords
animal welfare *
bovine tuberculosis *
box trap *
cage trap *
capture myopathy *
European badger
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