The Off The Leash Podcast 2.3

In this episode we focus on the government's mess of a BovineTb 'strategy' that has seen so many negative headlines this week as Defra Minister George Eustice threatens to have Geronimo the alpaca killed (Dominic explains the situation from a behind the scenes perspective) and a coalition of animal welfare organisations submit more information on the badger cull to the Bern Convention. We made it out of our lockdown shelters to join Oxfordshire Badger Group at Wytham Woods (and our first shortcast comes from that visit courtesy of Oxon Badgers chair Juila Hammett).  Away from badgers, Charlie highlights a report by Rewilding Britain which details what area of our National Parks are given over to grouse shooting and excoriates the vile 'tradition' of cubbing - training hunting hounds by setting them on fox cubs. In Heroes and Villains, we thank  Helen Macdonald  (Geronimo's owner) for her stance and the 'Seven Sisters' acquitted of aggravated trespass charges brought by HS2, and we name Defra and the trustees of the Science Museum as our villains. 
Lastly, we have a second shortcast, this time from Jack Wootton, founder of the Forgotten Fish Project.

The Sun  Boris Johnson condemns Geronimo the alpaca to death Badger Trust  Wildlife groups allege breach of international treaty obligationsOxfordshire Badger group  website and Twitter feedRewilding Britain  intensively-managed grouse moors cover over three-quarters of a million acres of Britain’s national parks The War on Wildlife Project  Cubbing | An autumn sicknessNorth West Hunt Sabs  Cub Hunting and how to sab themHS2 Rebelion  Seven sisters acquitted after all charges dismissedCulture Unstained  Science Museum signed Shell “gagging clause”Forth Rivers Trust The Forgotten Fish ProjectThe War on Wildlife Project  European Eels - slipping towards extinction?