Wildlife Management

Badgers and Tuberculosis Culling Controversy

Badger culling as a bovine tuberculosis control measure has been extensively debated, with evidence for both welfare harms and limited efficacy.

Key Facts

Badger culling in the UK began in 2013 as part of a bovine TB eradication strategy
Over 280,000 badgers have been killed in England as of 2024
Field studies suggest culling reduces bovine TB in culled areas but may increase it in adjacent zones
Perturbation effect: disturbed badger social groups spread disease more widely through ranging
Cattle-side measures including better biosecurity and vaccination show comparable outcomes in some models

Welfare Considerations

Badger culling causes large-scale mortality in a socially complex species whose killing affects social group stability. The scientific evidence for efficacy is contested. Given the availability of alternative approaches, the welfare cost of culling tens of thousands of badgers per year is difficult to justify on precautionary grounds.

What You Can Do

Support badger vaccination programs as an alternative to culling
Advocate for the UK government to evaluate independent evidence on culling efficacy
Donate to the Badger Trust and similar organizations monitoring culling outcomes