Car death at rail crossing
Undercover film of cull shows animal’s slow, painful death
A MOTORIST has died after his car was hit by a train at a level crossing.
No passengers were hurt in the accident but the line had to be closed.
The service from London Liverpool Street to Norwich hit the man’s car at Palgrave, Norfolk, at around 6pm on Saturday.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is probing the incident.
It will try to establish if the car was trying to “jump” the crossing or there was system failure.
A CAGED badger writhes in agony after being shot as part of a cull.
Covert footage filmed by animal welfare campaigners shows a man firing his rifle at the badger at point-blank range.
But he does not follow up with a second shot to put it out of its misery.
It continues moving, appearing to be in enormous pain, for up to a minute before it finally falls still.
Cambridge University animal welfare expert Professor Donald Broom said: “It is likely the badger was conscious and suffering. Depending on where the bullet goes, it may take seconds, minutes, hours or days to die.”
The hidden camera footage by the Hunt Investigation Team Cumbria is said to be the first of cull contractors.
The RSPCA claimed it shows culling guidelines were not followed.
London veterinary director Caroline Allen said: “The shooter must check that the badger is dead and follow up with a second shot as soon as possible.”
Badger culling began in 2013 aiming to halt the spread of bovine tuberculosis, with 35,000 animals killed since.
Culls have been approved in 11 new areas, meaning 40,000 more will die.
Badger Trust chief executive Dominic Dyer called it a “war on wildlife”.
The Environment department said contractors were trained and monitored.