Wildlife

Badger Welfare in Bovine TB Control

Badger culling for bovine tuberculosis control in the UK raises significant welfare concerns with contested scientific justification.

Key Facts

Over 200,000 badgers have been killed in the UK since 2013
Scientific evidence for culling effectiveness is contested
Perturbation effect may spread TB as surviving badgers expand ranges
Vaccination programs offer a welfare-positive alternative under development

Welfare Considerations

Badger culling causes direct welfare harm through inhumane shooting (free-shooting may leave wounded animals), family group disruption, and population-level stress from perturbation. Injured badgers may suffer for extended periods. The contested evidence for effectiveness means this welfare harm may be caused without proportionate disease control benefit.

What You Can Do

Support badger vaccination program development
Advocate for science-based tuberculosis control policy
Donate to organizations monitoring and improving badger cull welfare standards
Support cattle-side improvements including cattle vaccination development