30 years of badger protection

Badger Trust Staff Team
Jul 16, 2022
3 min read

Badger Trust celebrates 30 years of badger protection law

Saturday 16th July marks exactly 30 years since the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) (PBA) came into effect which made it illegal to harm or disrupt a badger or their sett. The legislation was a landmark win for these black and white mammals, who had undergone a long history of persecution despite being an iconic native species.

The Protection of Badgers Act gave badgers across the UK unrivalled protection due to the sheer volume of cruelty and interference with both badgers and badger setts. The National Federation of Badger Groups (precursor to Badger Trust), was instrumental in bringing this legislation into fruition.

The Badger Trust team are celebrating this important 30-year legal milestone with balloons, bunting, and badger cake – all black and white and eco-friendly of course! The rather impressive cake was created by animal lover, Kitty, from KittyGirlBakes, who sculpted a beautiful black and white badger atop a vegan chocolate cake.

Badger Trust team celebrate 30 years of PBA (Stop Badger Crime Campaign)

To this day, Badger Trust continues to be the leading voice for badgers in England and Wales working with 50 badger groups spanning across the UK. The charity has been fundamental in ensuring the PBA is enforced through their badger protection police training programme.

Since 2017, Badger Trust has successfully delivered training to 42 police forces across England and Wales and has been credited in several successful prosecutions. Yet Badger Trust has been concerned by the low rates of public awareness regarding badgers' legally protected status. In a recent YouGov poll launched by the charity, it was found that 64% of British adults were either not sure or unaware that badgers were a legally protected species, and unfortunately, badger persecution crime rose by 55% between 2019 and 2020.

Badger Trust has therefore launched its PBA30 campaign surrounding the 30th anniversary of the PBA to both celebrate and raise awareness of the badger’s legally protected status. It is also calling for maximum sentencing for crimes against badgers to be brought in line with domestic animals – so an increase from six months to five years. That would deter people from committing crimes and lead to more resources committed to catching offenders.

A number of resources and activities have been launched on Badger Trust’s website as part of a ‘Stop Badger Crime’ week. Badger Trust hopes that today’s 30th anniversary celebrations of the PBA will help to spread the message of badger protection law whilst highlighting the excellent work of volunteers and police officers in making badger protection possible.

Not only are Badger Trust supporters out celebrating badger protection this weekend, but Bodger’s Badger and his new friend (M)Ash also joined in the celebrations! The 1990’s favourite TV character ‘Badger’ has recently joined Badger Trust in support of their campaign work to make Britain a safer place for badgers.