Badger Trust launches ‘End the Cull campaign’ as culling spells disaster for a protected species
- Badger Trust Staff Team
- Mar 27, 2023
- 3 min read
Fears grow as charities expect government kill figures to reveal the badger cull has claimed up to half of Britain's estimated population.
Badger Trust and other animal welfare charities nationwide are bracing for the next release of the government's badger kill figures. Each year, in spring, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) publishes the number of badgers killed the previous year. Fears are growing that, on current projections, the kill total will have now reached more than 200,000 badgers – up to half of Britain’s total badger population.
First implemented in 2013 as a highly contested measure to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), the badger cull has been continually highlighted as an unscientific, unethical, and ineffective strategy to curb a disease that is spread from cattle to cattle in 94% of cases.
Whilst it is undeniable that bTB is one of the most significant threats faced by farmers of our time, the most recent and comprehensive research into badger culling efficiency has shown that it simply does not work as a disease control strategy. Wales and Scotland have far fewer cases of bTB than England, and neither country culls badgers. Instead, they concentrate on cattle-based measures.
Sadly, for the first time in history, badger setts across England now sit empty. Some of these setts are hundreds of years old and form part of our natural heritage. Already the most nature-depleted landscape of all G7 nations, Britain cannot afford to lose even more of its native species, particularly those which perform vital ecosystem functions which help to maintain biodiversity.
Badgers are fundamental for the environment. As eco-system engineers, their digging and foraging behaviours rejuvenate soil health and provide refuge and microhabitats for wildlife, including pollinating insects, birds, and small mammals.
Speaking of this tragic loss, Peter Hambly, Executive Director of Badger Trust, explained:
Killing thousands of badgers through the badger cull has to end now. The badger cull is a national wildlife tragedy of massive proportions at a time when Britain’s nature is depleted like never before.
“It’s not the solution to the terrible cattle disease, bovine tuberculosis. Wales and Scotland don’t cull badgers to control bTB, but they do focus on cattle-based measures and get better results. Badger Trust stands with all the local badger groups in urging people to support our call to end the cull. Most people in England are against the cull – it needs to stop now.”
What is Badger Trust doing?
This week, to mark what we expect to be an appalling milestone of the ten-year badger culling policy – the death of more than 200,000 badgers – we are launching our ‘End the Cull’ campaign.
Local badger groups across the country are expected to highlight the devastation caused by the massive cull, calling for its end and supporting new ways of tackling this devastating disease. In coming together in peaceful protest, badger groups and other supporters will be united in their efforts to End the Cull once and for all.
How can you help End the Cull?
Stand up for badgers.
One of the most powerful things you can do is to share this information:
Tell ten people.
Share our news releases and social media posts in your own social media, blogs and newsletters.
Write to your MP and local news outlets.
Your actions will help us raise awareness of this wildlife catastrophe.
Keep informed
Give to help badgers.
Badgers need your help now more than ever. Badger Trust is a small charity 100% funded by voluntary donations from local badger groups, supporters and members of the public. We can only do our work with financial and campaign support from people like you.
Getting involved with your local group and signing up for a monthly donation plan with Badger Trust are two of the best ways you can help preserve this wonderful native species for generations to come.
