Wild Badgers and Culling Welfare

The UK badger cull program aims to control bovine tuberculosis but kills hundreds of thousands of badgers through methods that cause significant welfare harm — with contested scientific efficacy.

Key Facts

Over 230,000 badgers have been killed in the English badger cull since 2013
Badgers are shot by free shooting — approximately 25% may not be killed instantly
The scientific evidence for cull effectiveness in bTB control is contested by many researchers
Badger vaccination programs have been shown to reduce bTB in vaccinated populations
Ireland used culling intensively and still has high bTB rates — suggesting limited long-term efficacy

Welfare Considerations

Badgers killed by free shooting experience shooting that is sometimes accurate and sometimes not. Non-instantly killed animals may run wounded for distances before death. The welfare harm of free shooting is documented — an estimated quarter of badgers take more than five minutes to die. The policy is implemented on animals that have a rich social and foraging life, killing thousands in an area to prevent transmission of a disease whose exact mechanism requires ongoing research. The welfare cost is certain; the benefit is disputed.

What You Can Do

Support badger vaccination programs as a more welfare-conscious alternative to culling
Donate to the Badger Trust advocacy and vaccination programs
Advocate for evidence-based bTB control policy that prioritizes less harmful methods
Engage with the scientific literature on badger culling efficacy independently
Contact your MP or representative about welfare standards in wildlife disease management programs