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Queen's Brian May Condemns Badger Extermination Policy in Wales

Brian MayConcerned with the prospect of the badger population in Wales being killed, Queen guitarist Brian May is crusading on the animals' behalf. The musician has been very outspoken about his opposition to a Welsh assembly's decision to allow badgers to be exterminated to combat the spread of bovine tuberculosis to cattle. Reports say that the number of badgers to be killed is in the thousands.

"In addition to its callous disregard for the lives of these beautiful native creatures," May wrote on his blog last month, "the decision flies in the face of all available scientific evidence -- which clearly predicts that the cull will have no beneficial effect on Bovine health, and may in fact increase the incidence of the disease in Welsh cattle."

On Sunday, May announced a new campaign he is launching called 'Save Me,' which is also the title of a song he wrote for Queen's 1980 album, 'The Game.' "I hope to at least open people's eyes to the possibility of making animals a priority," he said in a blog post, "instead of trying to figure out which party will best line our pockets."

According to an article in the Guardian, Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones announced the decision in January for the cull because of rising taxpayer reimbursement for farmers' cattle loss, which had risen to 12,000 in 2008. The Telegraph reports that while the plan, which would mean that the badgers would be snared and later shot, has the general support of Welsh farmers, it was condemned by animal rights groups, with the Badger Trust Cymru calling it an "abhorrent decision." A judicial verdict on the matter may come sometime this month, according to BBC News.

Recently, May participated in a just-aired ITV program, 'Wales This Week,' in which he traveled to Pembrokeshire to see the impact of bovine TB on the farm industry. He participated in a kitchen table debate at the farm home of Stephen James, deputy president of NFU-Cymru, an organization that represents Welsh farmers. The two differed over the use of a badger vaccine, which May supports.

"I got involved," May said, "because I think animals don't have a voice. And I've become somebody who wants to give a voice to the animals. I'm very practical -- I've come down here because I care about badgers, but also I care about the farmers."

Despite his pro-cull support, James complimented the Queen guitarist for coming to visit his farm. "He's a gentleman," he said on the TV show. "I'm convinced that we've shown him that we have a major problem with TB and something has to be done about it. It's an escalating problem. He believes that vaccination is the root out of it. We've yet to be convinced of that. Short term, I am afraid we've got to rely on the cull."

May's efforts have not gone without criticism, particularly from a group called the Farmers Union of Wales. "It is completely galling," said Farmers Union vice president Brian Walters on the Farmers Guardian website, "for those who have to live with the misery and financial losses caused by bovine TB to see a millionaire rock star dropping in to talk about the proposed cull when he has no idea of the desperate need to control this disease."

Walters goes on to further say in the article, "Yet when the Welsh government proposes a small-scale badger cull in an area where one in seven badgers is infected with the disease, Brian May announces on his website he is 'losing most of a precious day in the studio' to travel to Swansea to take part in a cynical publicity stunt."

For his part, May will carry on the fight for the badgers. "No matter what happens today or tomorrow," he said on 'Wales This Week,' "and no matter what the judicial review says, I will still continue to be an advocate for these animals. I'm not turning back now."

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27 Comments

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Rene

You go...Brian...I can feel your passion!! ☺☺

April 15 2010 at 10:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rebecca

Well done Brian May. A man of compassion. He has gone up in my estimation now.

April 14 2010 at 9:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ralonne

Good for you Brian May! This is akin to ranchers in the US 'culling' the cougars and wolves because they were afraid the predators would kill their livestock - - without a shred of evidence to back it up, I might add. Once again, farmers/ranchers are willing to decimate a species in order to save their precious livestock which is probably getting its TB by something completely unrelated to the badgers in the area.

April 13 2010 at 9:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike

Badgers?
We don't need no stinkin Badgers!

April 13 2010 at 8:46 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Mike's comment
wendyannjs

What a sad banal comment i feel sorry for you .

July 20 2011 at 5:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jokesl3

Now they need to get rid of the rats in the White House and in Congress.

April 13 2010 at 8:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
E raymond

Sounds like Brian DOES know something about the issue and bravo to him for speaking out for those with no voices. Love him!

April 13 2010 at 8:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to E raymond's comment
Mark

If Brian is so concerned about the wellfare of these badgers, then he should round them all up and ship them over to his property, where'd they have thousands of acres to roam and do their thing without being a threat to the farmers' livestock. I have little respect for tree-hugging, animal protecting, liberal cry-babies who only rant and rave about the things they think are wrong, but don't offer any solutions to the "problem," especially when the solution would require them to take on those animals themselves, spend the time and money to provide them a safe habit and actively maintain the animals' health. They love to whine and cry but never want to make themselves the solution, because then it might actually inconvenience them in a way they don't desire.

April 13 2010 at 9:26 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
michael

Another important editorial piece from your friends at AOL!! Have a nice day!!

April 13 2010 at 8:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Karen

First of all....if you want someone to read your post then you might type so that others can read it!! But then again...your post made absolutely no sense so it makes no difference anyway!!

April 13 2010 at 8:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lou

If they have a vaccination...why not vaccinate the cattle, and leave the wild animals alone.

April 13 2010 at 8:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dee

The badger is currently the largest mammal in the UK because every larger mammal that used to live there has been wiped out by hunting. Looks like they're repeating the same mistake now with badgers. Thank you Brian for taking a stand to help the animals! We'll support your cause any way we can.

April 13 2010 at 8:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Dee's comment
wendyannjs

Hi i agree wholeheratedly every animal is here for reason and has a role to play in the eco system but arrogant human kind want it all thier own way and will eventually eradicate every species that gets in the way and this earth will be filled with nothing but humans what a horrible thought yet again they cant be bothered to find out if the badgers are actually giving the cattle TB how do they know it isnt transmitted from cattle to cattle whilst they are shipped and farmed all close together and sold in markets . What a sad world we live in

July 20 2011 at 5:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply