The Welsh Rural Affairs Minister this week announced that a pilot scheme to cull thousands of badgers in Wales will start later this year, after the badger breeding season has finished in May. The £9m pilot cull will take place across a 288 sq.km area, mainly in Pembrokeshire, and will see five culls take place over the course of several years.

In making the announcement, the Minister, Elin Jones, said that bovine TB is “out of control” in Wales, and stated that the compensation bill for farmers was £24m in 2009, a rise from £1m in 2000. 12,000 cattle were culled in 2008 due to bovine TB.

The move has been welcomed by the British Veterinary Association and by farmers but condemned by others, citing the ten-year study by the Independent Scientific Group which showed the culling badgers could actually increase the risk of spreading the disease, conluding that “while badgers are clearly a source of cattle TB, careful evaluation of our own and others’ data indicates that badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain. Indeed, some policies under consideration are likely to make matters worse rather than better.”

Guardian: 13 January 2010, Badger cull to go ahead in Wales, John Vidal

Previous posts relating to the ISG report, the subsequent report by Prof. Sir David King, then Government Chief Scientific Advisor, the EFRA Select Committee and news stories on the topic can be found in the BES Blog archive.

Veterinarian Tim Dale has begun a PhD at the University of Liverpool, part funded by the National Trust, to investigate why the deadly squirrel pox virus is destroying red squirrel populations. He will investigate how the disease is transmitted to red from grey squirrels – which are unaffected by the virus.

British Ecological Society Vice President, Professor Mike Begon, interviewed for today’s Guardian, suggested that conservationists long believed the theory of the aggressive grey outcompeting the red squirrel but that, in fact, the pox virus may have been the fundamental cause of the red’s decline all along.

Dale will work in Formby, “the frontline in the battle for survival between red and grey squirrels”, according to Professor Begon. Numbers of red squirrels there have slumped from 1,000 to 100 since the pox struck populations there two years ago.

Dale will investigate whether some red squirrels are immune to the pox. His research could help scientists to develop a vaccine against the disease.

Original article: Mysterious pox kills red squirrels, leaving grey squirrels marching on. Partick Barkham, Guardian, Thursday 1 October 2009.

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn, has announced (19 March) that next year will see the implementation of the first stage in Defra’s plan to vaccinate badgers against bovine TB. The disease costs the farming industry millions of pounds each year and results in thousands of cattle infected with the disease going to slaughter.

Six areas, precise locations to be announced after consultation with the farming industry, will be the focus for the first stage of the vaccination scheme, which will begin in summer 2010 and continue for at least five years. The Conservatives have challenged the Government’ focus on vaccination, calling for a badger cull. The UK Government’s plans are also at odds with those of the Welsh Assembly Government, which is expected to announce further details of its plan to instigate a large-scale badger cull in Wales, later this month.

Defra will begin to train farmers and vets, who will be responsible for trapping and vaccinating the badgers, later this year.

See more at the BBC Website

The government has pledged £25 million to help eradicate the plant diseases Phytophthora kernoviae and Phytophthora ramorum, which are spreading across the UK.

Phytophthora kernoviae and Phytophthora ramorum are fungus-like pathogens which cause potentially lethal infections in oak and beech trees, as well as infecting and damaging other trees and shrubs which make up Britain’s woodlands.

The pathogens were first discovered in the the UK in 2003 and 2002, respectively. The scale of the outbreak was significant enough for emergency measures against the introduction and spread of Phytophthora ramorum to be introduced throughout the EU in November 2002 and a ‘Phytophthora kernoviae Management Zone’ was established in the UK in 2004. Whilst the number of outbreaks subsequently decreased, 69 sites in England and Wales are still affected by the disease.

The extent of the damage these Phytophthora species cause to trees and shrubs, and the speed at which symptoms develop, mean that they pose a potentially serious threat to woodland and heathland environments. A major epidemic in the UK could have potentially devastating consequences on the landscape, biodiversity, tourism and horticulture.

Rhododendrons, a carrier of both diseases, will continue to be removed in woodland to tackle the problem. The government also plans to invest a significant portion of the £25million into new research and development, and there will be a campaign to make landowners aware of the threat.

Read more about this story on the BBC News website

Visist Defra’s Plant Health home pages

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 2003 to over 30% lost each year now, Richard explores the potential causes of the species’ perilous state, and the consequences if bee species were to become extinct in the UK.

Two members of the BES were interviewed to inform the article; Professor Dave Goulson, University of Stirling, and Dr Mick Hanley, Plymouth University. We are always keen to hear from members of the BES interested in engaging with the media, and can offer support towards media training if necessary. Please contact the BES Press Officer for more information.

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 important contributory factors to a rise in diseases.

Dr Karesh said that by monitoring wildlife it is possible to spot early signs of potential epidemics:

“What we are calling for today is a comprehensive approach to disease globally. Our long-term vision is a comprehensive monitoring network to watch the health of wildlife across the globe.”

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, preliminary trials have proved a success in preventing human epidemics; by keeping an eye on gorilla and chimp deaths brought about by the Ebola virus.

Warmer weather can help diseases thrive, dry conditions resulting in an increased frequency of watering by animals and thus a greater exposure to potential sources of disease. Some of the diseases that could become more of a threat include, Babesiosis in East Africa, Cholera and Sleeping Sickness.

A comprehensive review of wildlife diseases can be found in April’s Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology POSTnote.

Read more about POST at http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_offices/post/new.cfm

Click here to read about how to apply for this fellowship.

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 destruction.

Those species most at risk are found in Mediterranean regions, predicted to become warmer and drier as the climate changes. These island species are unable to move to cooler areas as they are cut off by sea or by mountain ranges. In England too, the common toad, natterjack toad and crested newt are threatened. One study shows that as global warming alters the climate in Europe, almost every amphibian habitat would be affected.

Habitat loss, caused the the encroachment of towns and cities into rural areas is chiefly to blame, but climate change also seems to be exacerbating the threat of disease and infection to many amphibian species. In one national park in Spain for example, the amphibian population has declined sharply: as the area has become warmer, the deadly chytrid fungus has thrived and spread amongst the animals’ populations.

As the number of amphibians declines, the populations of their insect prey are expected to increase, with consequences for disease amongst humans. The chief predators of the amphibians; snakes, fish and birds, are already showing declines.

Conservationists have urged zoos to set up captive breeding programmes to save the most threatened amphibian species.

Original article: Over half of Europe’s amphibians face extinction by 2050. Guardian, 26 September 2008:

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 in five colonies were reported dead earlier in 2008 by a government survey of 10% of the UK’s hives. The losses reported in the BBKA survey are substantially higher. Defra has attributed high mortality to wet weather last summer and early in spring 2008, which confined bees to their hives. They were unable to forage for nectar and pollen and this provided the opportunity for pathogens to build up and spread through the colonies. The BBKA believe the causes are less clear.

The President of the BBKA, Tim Lovett, stated that: “Average winter bee losses due to poor weather and disease vary from betwen 5- 10%, so a 30% loss is deeply worrying.” The Honey Association warns that English honey will run out by Christmas, with shortages into next year.

The colony collapse is expected to cost the UK economy £50 million. Rowse Honey, the UK’s leading honey company, has pledged to provide extra support for honeybee research. The company has pledged to provide £25,000 to support research to find a “hardier bee”, which can better withstand disease. Defra currently spends £1.3 million on bee health each year, with an extra £200,000 for research. The BBKA has called for government to increase support to £8 million per annum.

Rowse’s clear English honey comes from the borage plant. However, less borage has been planted this year due to the increased demand for biofuels; making wheat more profitable to grow.

Other honey-producing nations have seen a decline in their bee populations. Argentina has seen a 27% drop in honey yield due to droughts and the planting of soya beans for biofuel.

• Read original article: Honeybee population collapse exceeds worse fears as one in three hives are lost, Guardian 13 August 2008
• Respond to Defra’s current consultation on honeybee health (Closing date 29 August 2008)
• Read comment and analysis by Richard Black, Environment Correspondent, BBC Website (14 August 2008)

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 and has accused the Government of lacking leadership. The organisation plans a demonstration outside Parliament next week. The NFU claim that, unchecked, bovine TB could cost the economy £1 billion in compensation and control measures.

Last year, the Independent Scientific Group looking at this issue published the results of their long-term study into the effectiveness of culling badgers to control the spread of TB to cattle. They concluded that whilst a long-term, large scale cull could be effective, the impact was inconclusive and culling was likely to be an uneconomical solution. Scientists have argued that better biosecurity is the way to keep the disease under control, along with the use of any vaccine which may be developed. The Government’s then chief scientific advisor, Sir David King, published a report following the ISG publication, arguing that a cull should go ahead.

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 of biodiversity loss and a potential threat to human health. For wildlife, diseases can lead to increased susceptibility to other diseases and reduced reproductive capacity. Numerous diseases are believed to have been introduced from outside the UK, indicating the need for better monitoring of diseases and improved regulation of animal imports and movements. For example the squirrelpox virus, which affects red squirrels but not grey squirrels, is thought to have been introduced by grey squirrels and has been identified as a major contributor of red squirrel decline. Ranavirus affects amphibians in the UK, and phylogeographic research suggests that the disease has been introduced from the USA. And globally, Chytridiomycosis is a major threat to all amphibians and an important driver of amphibian population declines.

Despite these considerable threats, not to mention the unknown threats from emerging and as-yet undiscovered viruses, there is no single government body designed and equipped to deal specifically with wildlife diseases, a strong point highlighted by the speakers. The Wildlife Health Strategy is in place to cover issues pertaining to wildlife disease, but only has the budget and resources to respond reactively to emerging events.

There was a general concensus that there is an urgent need for a new government body to deal with wildlife diseases, although at present DEFRA does not have the resources for a restructuring. Vic Simpson, a veterinary pathologist by training, identified the link between pesticide pollution – Polychlorobiphenyls led to increased disease susceptibility in otters and other problems – and the near-extinction of otters in the UK. His work enabled a succesful reintroduction campaign, having identified the cause of the problem. However, due to DEFRA’s chronic underfunding, the important work of Vic Simpson has been cut short.

The seminar was an excellent opportunity to expose an interesting and under-explored topic of disease ecology, coming at a time when when fresh outbreaks of Avian Influenza are reported to be impacting on Oxfordshire poultry farms. There is clearly an urgent need for a wildlife department in the UK capable of dealing with wildlife diseases.

Read more about POST at http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_offices/post/new.cfm

Click here to read about how to apply for the BES POST Fellowship. Applications for the 2009 Fellowship will open early in the new year.