Category Archives: Wildlife Disease
BES Members Interviewed on Plight of UK Bees
Writing in yesterday’s Times (Sunday 1st February), Richard Girling explores the plight of bumble and honey bees in the UK. Examining the massive declines in bee populations in the UK, accelerating from 6% of honeybee colonies failing per year in … Continue reading
Climate Change Heightens Disease Threat
Speaking from the IUCN conference in Barcelona, William Karesh of the Wildlife Conservation Society spoke of potential fresh outbreaks of various diseases as a result of the effects of climate change. Changes in rainfall patterns and temperature variation could be … Continue reading
Amphibians in Precipitous Decline Spurred by Climate Change and Disease
Researchers at the Zoological Society of London last night warned that over half of all frogs, toads and newts in Europe could be driven to extinction within the next 40 years, through a combination of climate change, disease and habitat … Continue reading
Honeybee Populations’ Numbers Lower Than Feared
A survey by the British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) has revealed that nearly one in three of the Uk’s 240,000 honeybee hives did not survive over the last winter and srping, putting at risk the pollination of fruits and vegetables. One … Continue reading
Badger Cull Proposals Rejected
The BBC has this morning reported that the Government has decided not to press ahead with the proposed cull of badgers in England. The formal policy announcement is due on Monday 7 July. The NFU is disappointed by the decision … Continue reading
POSTnote on Wildlife Diseases at Westminster Hall
Yesterday a POSTnote seminar was held on the topic of Wildlife Diseases at Westminster Hall, with speakers Dr Andrew Cunningham, Institute of Zoology, Vic Simpson, Wildlife Veterinary Investigation Centre, and Matthew Hartley, DEFRA. Wildlife diseases can be both a driver … Continue reading
Wildlife Diseases: POST Seminar – Tuesday 3 June
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) is holding an afternoon seminar on Wildlife Diseases on Tuesday 3rd June (Jubilee Room, Westminster Hall, 4.00pm) POST will be joined by speakers with experience of the scientific and practical aspects of … Continue reading
Proposed Badger Eradication in Wales
Welsh ministers are considering introducing a targeted badger cull. Elin Jones, rural affairs minister, has called for a review of the current policy, given that the incidence of TB in cattle has increased in recent years. A report published last … Continue reading
Greater Protection for Red Squirrels
The “buffer zones” which protect red squirrel populations in the North of England from the encroachment of grey squirrels have been widened. Lord Rooker, Minister for the Environment, said that Natural England had taken the action as a “precautionary measure”. … Continue reading
Badgers and Cattle TB: Final Report of Select Committee Published
The EFRA Select Committee has today published the final report of its inquiry into badgers and cattle TB. The Committee find that current measures to control the spread of TB are not working and recommends that the Governments’ future policy … Continue reading