The problem is that some badgers carry “Bovine Tuberculosis”(BTB), an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Bovis (M. Bovis) which can cause TB in some other animals, including cattle.

　　For farmers, this is a serious issue. In 1998 in the UK, almost 6 000 cows were killed to control the disease. And in 2010, more than 30 000 animals were destroyed. It's expensive too. Bovine TB costs the UK about ￡100 million per year. And some believe that the disease could end up costing the economy ￡9 billion over the next 40 years if nothing is done about it.

　　Experts say that badgers are responsible for about 50% of the infected cattle.

　　So, after much debate, the government has agreed to a badger cull (杀戮). This will mean about 30 000 of the innocent creatures will be wiped out to fight the disease.

　　Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman admitted that there was

　　“great strength of feeling”

　　about it, but said, “I believe this is the right way forward.”

　　Of course, many are against the measure, including conservationists and animal rights activists. They claim that killing the badgers in controlled zones wouldn't work because badgers from neighboring areas would simply move into the empty setts and become infected too. Furthermore, they believe that the way cattle are raised intensively, and transported around to lots of different farms during their lives is probably the biggest cause of the spread of the disease.

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