Badger Trust and Wild Justice pressure gains a small victory for badgers with last-minute change

DEFRA extends the response date to its controversial “badger control” consultation.

Thanks to pressure from Badger Trust and Wild Justice, Defra has, at the last minute, extended its “badger control” consultation by three weeks from Monday, 22 April 2024, to Monday, 13 May 2024.

DEFRA also sent a limited response to our 22 March request for information and we are considering the next steps.

2024 Badger Cull Consultation Timeline

• 14 March: DEFRA consultation published.

• 22 March: Badger Trust and Wild Justice write to DEFRA criticising the quality of the consultation, warning that it may be unlawful, and requesting a response by 28 March.

• 2 April: DEFRA replies and promises to respond fully by Friday, 19 April (the consultation is planned to close on Monday, 22 April). 

• 19 April: At 17:07 on Friday, 19 April, DEFRA writes to Badger Trust and Wild Justice, extending the consultation period by three weeks to 23:59 on 13 May 2024. We received a limited response to our request for information and are considering the next steps.

This latest consultation is asking for justification to intensify and prolong badger culling in England to control bTB. The consultation comes even as independent analyses repeatedly show that the best way to reduce bTB in cattle is to focus on proven cattle measures.

Peter Hambly, Executive Director of Badger Trust, commented:

‘Extending the response time for a flawed consultation is a start, and it wouldn’t have happened without the challenge by Badger Trust and Wild Justice.  

We will continue to work hard for badgers and do all we can to protect a wonderful creature that continues to be unfairly scapegoated.”

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