While the badger cull has ended here, sadly, it is being considered again in Wales. We fought it in the High Court in 2009 and won, never thinking it would be considered again.
The Welsh Government has voted to put culling back on the agenda. This is also being fuelled by Reform UK, which supports badger culling. The Welsh Government wants to consider targeted wildlife control, including culling, in the fight against bTB. Many are against it, and we can only make our feelings known and hope sense prevails. My belief is there is little appetite for it. Northern Ireland continues to cull.
The Welsh Senedd debate on bovine TB launched a public petition calling on the Welsh Government to reject any future culling in Wales. It has over 10,000 signatures and is enough for it to be considered for a government debate. The Badger Trust campaign in Wales will continue to focus on three key themes: The science, the fact that the public does not want it, and Wales is already seeing a reduction in bTB without culling.
Badgers continue to face much persecution here and in Wales. Badgers are found on the roads, but many have been killed and put there to look like roadkill. Badger baiting continues in many areas, and we all need to be vigilant about anything that looks suspicious.
– Valerie Russell.