Defra are continuing to apply for licenses to eradicate a population of up to 77 free-flying MONK PARAKEETS in Britain - a species that does no harm to any other species and builds its own nest. Its only crime being that it is noisy.
COSTINGS for the programme - a disgrace
Birds were shot during field trials in 2008 at a cost of £37,000.
Budget for eradication programme 2011-12 = £90,000. The amount actually spent from 1 April 2011 to 19 March 2012 was £52,000 (it is unlikely the other £48,000 was spent in the remaining 2 weeks of the financial year).
Budget for 2012-13 = £43,000 but £58,000 spent
Budget for 2013-14 = £50,000
So far £147,000 has been spent but so far the BUDGET has been £235,000
So far about £2,000 spent per bird with in all with around £3,000 budgeted per bird!