IT is somewhat ironic that the cover of the Echo Magazine (‘Brock’n’roll – Wildlife Trusts celebrate 100 years’, August 18) should show a picture of a badger, when in one month’s time thousands of them will be unnecessarily slaughtered. The September massacre could well be the precursor to an England-wide cull resulting in a loss of up to 40,000 of these best-loved and currently protected animals.

Marksmen with their high-powered rifles will lie in wait to kill badgers as they leave their setts to feed. Some will die instantly but undoubtedly many will be left injured to suffer an agonising death, separated from their social group and their young: and many will not even be carriers of bovine TB.

Although the government says the slaughter is necessary to stop the spread of bovine TB in cattle, a 10 years study by the Independent Scientific Group’ on bTB, which has already cost the tax-payers nearly £50 million, concluded that: “Culling badgers would make no meaningful contribution to bTB control and could, indeed, increase the spread of the disease.” Opinion backed by scientific studies suggest that the only effective way to protect cattle from bTB is through the use of vaccination.

Time is now running out for the badgers, so anyone who is interested in supporting and saving them by backing vaccination should write to: Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State, DEFRA, or sign the on-line petitions at networkforanimals.org and league.org.uk before September 10.

ROBERT TUCK, Pardy’s Hill, Corfe Mullen