I have written many times about the appalling cull of Badgers, most recently here and here in respect of a recent rigorous independent analysis of Government data which shows mass Badger culling is not effective at stamping out bTB in cows.
In April 2022, the Government finally released the 2021 Badger cull figures. This reveals at least 33,687 Badgers were killed in 2021 as part of its ongoing and intensifying cull campaign. This figure brings the total number of Badgers killed to over 175,000 since 2013, this representing over a third of the entire UK Badger population.
Scientists, vets and naturalists are now calling for a moratorium on the Badger cull in the light of evidence that shows 9 years of killing Badgers has failed to reduce bovine TB in cattle.
The culling of legally protected Badgers
to reduce bovine TB enters its 10th season this summer despite the publication
of a scientific paper in the journal Veterinary Record earlier this year which
concluded that culling had no significant impact on bovine TB in cattle herds.
The paper sparked a row over its methodology which the Government says was
flawed.
In an open letter to the Prime Minister
and the Environment Secretary, experts warned that new culling licences could
target 25,000 Badgers in addition to more than 175,000 killed under licence
since the policy began in 2013.
Although the Government
pledged in 2020 to phase out Badger culling in favour
of cattle and Badger vaccination, better cattle TB tests and enhanced
biosecurity measures on farms, new licences issued this summer will continue to
see Badgers shot until 2025.
In the letter, the signatories called
for an immediate moratorium on issuing a final set of 4-year culling licences
and asked the Government to conduct “a thorough, independent and transparent”
review of the policy.
The
peer-reviewed Veterinary Record paper by the
independent ecologist Tom Langton and the vets Iain McGill and Mark Jones, included as signatories to the letter, analysed Government data on bovine TB in
cattle herds within the “high risk” area of England over the period 2010 to 2020
and found that in 9 out 10 counties, bovine TB incidence peaked and began to
fall before Badger culling even commenced.
In response, DEFRA published its own analysis in the form of a graph which
was not peer-reviewed and which it subsequently admitted was based on
“incorrect calculations”. DEFRA maintains that the Veterinary Record paper was “scientifically flawed” and says culling of Badgers has reduced bovine TB.
Tom Langton, the lead author of the
independent paper, said: “DEFRA have painted themselves into a ridiculous
scientific corner and now simply refuse to discuss it. This is the sign of a Government that has lost its grip and cannot accept that its own data now shows Badger culling to be a cruel and ineffective failure.”
Iain McGill said: “Our analysis
was rigorously peer-reviewed and robust. DEFRA’s response was non peer-reviewed
and based on the wrong data. If DEFRA are confident they are right, then they
should have no issue with an independent review of all the available data.”
Caroline Lucas MP said: “It couldn’t be clearer – Badger culling simply doesn’t stop the spread of TB in cattle. Yet even when presented with this evidence, DEFRA has its fingers in its ears, and continues to kill at will. We need to see a moratorium to allow time for independent scrutiny of the evidence – which I have no doubt will reinforce the message that this cruel and counterproductive Badger cull must come to an end.”
Peter Hambly, Executive Director of the Badger Trust said: “The letter clearly states the case for an immediate moratorium on Badger culling. Over 176,000 Badgers have been killed, and in 2022 we could reach the heartbreaking total of 200,000, which could be as much as 40% of the Badger population. Some parts of the South West are now facing Badger extinction. The letter outlines that Badger culling is ineffective in reducing bTB in cattle. The most effective solutions are cattle-based – restricting cattle movements, enhanced biosecurity, better cattle testing, and an effective cattle vaccine. The Langton, Jones, and McGill report laid out the evidence, and the Government has not properly responded. They need to stop the Badger cull right now and never cull Badgers again.”
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