Campaigns

Badgers, an iconic symbol of the British countryside, are under threat of yet another cull in the hope of controlling the spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), even though the majority do not even carry the disease.  Although badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) there is a provision which allows badgers to be killed to prevent the spread of disease. A 10-year study performed by The Independent Scientific Group on cattle TB (ISG), which cost taxpayers £50 million, concluded in 2007 that culling badgers would make no meaningful contribution to bTB control in Britain and could indeed increase the spread the disease.

Network for Animals are campaigning against a cull because culling can never be a humane solution.  If the cull goes ahead, thousands of badgers, mostly uninfected, will be shot as they roam freely on the land. This untested method will ensure not only that setts are disrupted and badgers killed, but many more will be injured and go on to experience a slow, painful death. Culling is a cruel and unnecessary practice which will devastate and divide rural communities.