The UK badger cull, targeting badgers as alleged TB vectors in cattle, is highly contested on both welfare and scientific grounds with vaccination as the evidence-based alternative.
Badgers in cull zones are shot and must be humanely dispatched, but wound rates averaging 6-22% mean many escape injured. The scientific basis for culling is disputed, with evidence suggesting perturbation effects spread disease. Vaccination is more expensive short-term but eliminates welfare harms while being equally or more effective.