Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.1, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # The Badger Crowd - standing up for badgers Reporting on badger cull science & legal challenges ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://thebadgercrowd.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Blog](https://thebadgercrowd.org/blog) - [Bringing the science of badger culling up to date](https://thebadgercrowd.org/bringing-the-science-of-badger-culling-up-to-date) - The original Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) analysis The Government’s English badger cull policy since 2011 has rested all but entirely on the RBCT analyses, the first of which was Donnelly et al (2006). It is the science that DEFRA has used to create intensive, supplementary and Low Risk Area (LRA) policy and in court - [BTB control contradictions at the APHA](https://thebadgercrowd.org/contradictions-at-apha) - In late November 2025 APHA published online their annual report on bTB for last year: “Bovine tuberculosis in England in 2024 Epidemiological analysis of the 2024 surveillance data and historical trends in cattle.” It is a disappointing read. In 2023, APHA said: “A new Disease Report Form (DRF), for recording cattle TB incident investigations, is - [Government abandons RBCT as badger TB intervention evidence](https://thebadgercrowd.org/another-rbct-update) - A quick reminder of why the RBCT is so important The Government’s English badger cull policy since 2013 has rested all but entirely on the RBCT analyses. It is the science that DEFRA has used to create policy and in court to defend their decisions to experiment with badger culling. The original RBCT conclusions claimed - [Low Risk Area (LRA) culling must be scrapped for good](https://thebadgercrowd.org/low-risk-area-lra-culling-must-be-scrapped-for-good) - A Cumbria badger bloodbath At the Westminster Hall Debate on the 13th October, Angela Eagle the Defra Minister of State confirmed that the badger cull would come to an end in February 2026 in all but one area. Cull Area no. 73, south of Carlisle, was initiated by Labour as a new cull zone last - [Westminster Hall debate on ending Badger Culling, 13 October 2025](https://thebadgercrowd.org/westminster-hall-debate-on-badger-culling-13-october-2025) - The Westminster Hall debate of the Protect the Wild petition, held on 13th October, was a significant improvement on previous badger cull debates. The majority of voices spoke earnestly about a wish to stop badger culling and address TB testing failures as soon as possible. There wasn’t a repeat of the nonsense we have previously - [Are both sides of the badger cull argument ‘mining the data’?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/are-both-sides-of-the-badger-cull-argument-mining-the-data) - It has been claimed that the disagreement about the Randomised Badger Culling Trials (RBCT), and what that central study tells us about whether badger culling can reduce bovine TB breakdowns in cattle, is a result of ‘data mining’ from both sides. That is, both sides are selecting the methods of analysis that give them the - [Further evidence against the culling of healthy badgers](https://thebadgercrowd.org/further-evidence-against-the-culling-of-healthy-badgers) - A letter published last week in Vet Record (4/11 October) highlights further evidence against the culling of healthy badgers. The letter by Professor Paul Torgerson focuses on the recent scientific take-down of the supposed bovine TB ‘benefit’ from badger culling reported from the Randomised Badger Culling Trials (RBCT). He describes the subsequent attempt to rescue - [Godfray Review 2025: Defra Revision? Correction? Or just further scientific howlers?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/godfray-review-2025-defra-revision-correction-or-just-further-scientific-howlers) - On Friday 26th September, Defra changed the “Bovine TB strategy review update” but simply made things worse by adding another layer of confusion. An error was reported as “a revision to a line of code”. In the document itself, the change is referred to as a ‘cut and paste error.’ Red text in a box - [Godfray BTB review update 2025: a failure to deliver.](https://thebadgercrowd.org/godfray-in-full) - In December 2024, rather than have an independent review, Defra re-appointed some of its familiar advisors to update their 2018 Bovine TB Strategy Review. To consider “new evidence or analysis” published since 2018 that affects the recommendations made seven years ago. The reported aim was to assist work on a new bovine TB (bTB) strategy - [2038 Bovine TB targets on the scrap heap, with details of failed policy increasingly exposed](https://thebadgercrowd.org/2038-bovine-tb-targets-on-the-scrap-heap-with-details-of-failed-policy-increasingly-exposed) - Why was the use of Gamma interfreon testing, alongside use of the tuberculin test (SICCT), under-declared in APHA’s central bovine TB control evaluation paper (Birch et al 2024) last year, and also in the newly published ‘Godfray’ report? A letter published today 19th September, in Veterinary Record, details the amount of supplementary Gamma testing that - [Godfray ‘science’ report simply adds to the bovine TB chaos](https://thebadgercrowd.org/godfray-science-report-simply-adds-to-the-bovine-tb-chaos) - The long-awaited 'Godfray' report, a review of scientific evidence since 2018 concerning bovine TB in cattle, was published on 4th September. Commissioned by Defra, it is supposed to feed into a ‘comprehensive new bovine TB strategy' that was announced in August 2024 by the incoming Labour government. It is the science that the new policy should - [Cattle testing with Gamma interferon](https://thebadgercrowd.org/enhanced-cattle-testing-with-gamma) - On 19th August, Defra sent an email to 'stakeholders' announcing that as part of the work to refresh the bTB strategy, it will be “enhancing test sensitivity in cattle herds”. This is “to help identify infected cattle which may not have been detected by the skin test.” This news doesn't seem to have been reported very - [England's bovine TB control](https://thebadgercrowd.org/englands-bovine-tb-control) - The world watches and wonders........ The interest and outrage generated by the English badger culls over the last thirteen years is huge and continues to grow. But as time has gone on, the problems have also attracted a growing international following. Bovine TB is, after all, an international problem. Since 2019, there have been multiple - [Summer news roundup](https://thebadgercrowd.org/summer-news-rounup) - The parliamentary summer recess has begun. There can be no more Parliamentary Questions until the recall in September. Which is more than a shame, because there are questions that still need to be answered about the badger cull and bovine TB policy, by a government that does not engage properly with many stakeholders and the - [Is Diddly Squat Farm seeing the light on bovine TB testing and spread?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/jeremy-clarkson) - The Diddly Squat Farm, owned by TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson and a part of the ‘Clarkson’s Farm TV show’, was the subject last week of multiple media reports on positive bovine TB tests in their small cattle herd. Perhaps the most dreaded event for any cattle owner and the prelude to an often long, expensive - [The Cornwall badger vaccination project – why the secrecy and confusion?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/the-new-badger-vaccination-trial-whats-it-going-to-show) - On 30th July, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle Green received a reply to her written Parliamentary Question: “To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the paper by Torgerson and others published in the Royal Society Open Journal on 11 June claiming that other studies of badger culls contain methodological weaknesses; and - [Vacuous  vaccination?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/vacuous-vaccination) - Badger blame folly continues undercover Have you noticed how quiet the NFU have become over badger culling since Labour came to power? Why could this be? Badger Politics In 2024 there was an agreement between the NFU and Labour not to make an issue of badger culling during a general election year. This was on - [The 2025 'Torgerson' scientific paper](https://thebadgercrowd.org/the-new-torgerson-scientific-paper) - "The fall of the perturbation effect hypothesis" The new scientific Comment paper by Paul Torgerson and colleagues was published on 11 June in Royal Society Open Science (RSOS) (here), and is a comment on two 2024 re-evaluations of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial 1998-2005 (RBCT) statistics (here and here). These re-evaluations were, themselves, a rebuttal - [Vet Times reports on new Torgerson analysis](https://thebadgercrowd.org/vet-times-reports-on-new-torgerson-analysis) - A new article in Vet Times reports on the Torgerson et al (2025) paper published in Royal Society Open Science last month, that has prompted calls to stop all badger culling immediately. The badger culling policy has, it says, relied on a 'basic statistical oversight'. The article picks up on comments by the new paper’s - [What did The Royal Society peer-reviewer say about the new Torgerson et al (2025) paper?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/what-did-professor-mark-brewer-say-about-the-new-torgerson-et-al-2025-paper) - The peer-reviewer of the new scientific paper, Torgerson et al 2025, published on June 11th is the Director of Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BIOSS). The paper is concerned with analysis of the Ranomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT). Below, you can see the text of the review together with the authors responses, as addressed to the - [Bovine TB jargon explainer](https://thebadgercrowd.org/bovine-tb-jargon) - The TB status of cattle herds – how does that work? The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) maintain in recent publications (Birch et al. 2024 and APHA epidemiology reports for 2023) that it is the number of ‘OTF-W’ herd breakdowns that is the best headline measure of the change in bovine TB herd incidence - [Badger cull analyses were based on "naive" statistics](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-cull-analyses-were-based-on-naive-statistics) - The London based Royal Society have published analyses that show how key aspects of methodology of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) published in Nature in 2006 were misdescribed and used implausible analytics. Original statistical appraisal that RBCT authors had claimed was too robust to require checking, was actually fallible, once clearly explained and tested. - [Badger Bombshell!](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-bombshell) - In case you missed it, here is the Jane Dalton story from The Independent, Wednesday 11th June 2025: A prominent ecologist says an independent assessment of the latest study on badger culling is a “bombshell” takedown of the government’s evidence used to justify the policy. Tom Langton, a badger expert, said the conclusions by a - [Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) publications update](https://thebadgercrowd.org/randomised-badger-culling-trial-rbct-publications-update) - Following on from our blog of September 23rd 2024, that reported on the uncertainties around the RBCT analyses, we are pleased to provide an important update. As Jane Dalton writes in The Independent, "Bombshell’ badger cull study review ‘disproves evidence’ used by governments to justify killings." A quick reminder of why the RBCT is so - [Green Party continues to call for end to badger culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/green-party-continues-to-call-for-end-to-badger-culling) - In response to the new scientific paper published in Royal Society Open Science today, Natalie Bennett has re-iterated the Green Party's call to bring an end to badger culling. She is quoted as saying: "The Green Party has long said that the badger cull is cruel, ineffective in controlling TB in cattle, and unscientific, - [Badger Culling - where we are now](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-culling-where-we-are-now) - In August 2024, Defra announced plans for a ‘refreshed’ bovine TB control badger strategy (here). On 30th January 2025, Defra issued Terms of Reference (here) for their ‘comprehensive new bovine TB review’, a look at 'new' science, which will inform their 'refreshed' strategy. This included details of the scientific panel which will be reviewing ‘new’ evidence - [Badger culls get go-ahead for 13th year](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-culls-get-go-ahead-for-13th-year) - Natural England have confirmed that the nine (9) supplementary badger cull licences issued in 2024 have been authorized for their second and final year 2025, with culling running from 01 June to 31 January 2026. This is despite Director of Science Dr Peter Brotherton's concluding advice, that "Based on the evidence, I can find no - [Infectiousness of cattle – how Bovine TB understanding went wrong in the 1980s](https://thebadgercrowd.org/infectiousness-of-cattle-how-bovine-tb-understanding-went-wrong-in-1980) - [Activism and the Scientist](https://thebadgercrowd.org/activism-and-the-scientist) - npj Climate Action is an open-access, online journal published by Nature Portfolio. It focuses on research and action related to mitigating the hazardous effects of global climate change. It aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical climate action, informing policies at both local and global levels. - [Is Test Vaccinate Remove (TVR) the new corrupted thinking?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/are-we-heading-for-test-vaccinate-remove-tvr) - Labour took over Government in July 2024, with a manifesto that announced an end to “ineffective” badger culling. But since then there has been little change in the perpetual failings of Government response to the scientific and policy issues. Culling of largely healthy badger adults and cubs has continued in the High Risk Area of - [New Study: Badger culling is a national failure and must stop immediately](https://thebadgercrowd.org/new-study-badger-culling-is-a-national-failure-and-must-stop-immediately) - A new scientific paper published in Veterinary Record today 18th March 2022 analyses government data on bovine tuberculosis (bTB) collected by farmers and vets for a decade. It has been made available on open access here. A short video summarising the findings of the paper is available here. It is quite a lengthy paper, and - [How on earth did badgers get the TB blame?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/how-did-badgers-get-the-blame) - Bovine TB has been misunderstood for 50 years. All because new interpretations by MAFF in 1980 sent industry and scientists in the wrong direction. A new short report here now tells the story of how this came about. Studies of bovine TB in cattle carried out in the early twentieth century and reviewed by veterinarian - [Low Risk Area badger culling, yet again shown to be ineffective](https://thebadgercrowd.org/low-risk-area-culling-hasnt-worked-and-must-stop-immediately) - Minister Daniel Zeichner must stop wasting taxpayers money and ruining farm livelihoods immediately A new addendum update (here) to the dramatic 2023 expose (unheeded by the last Government), “A bovine tuberculosis policy conundrum in 2023” (here) has been released. It has been forwarded to Defra who say they are currently undertaking a review of scientific - ['Science and Politics' by Ian Boyd](https://thebadgercrowd.org/science-and-politics-by-ian-boyd) - Hiding in plain sight with the Oxford brigade Prof. Sir Ian Boyd has a book out: ‘Science and Politics’ (politybooks.com, around £20). In it, he devotes several pages to describing the events that led up to the start of English badger culls. He talks of attempts to reign in early plans to get badger culling - [Cull review details announced](https://thebadgercrowd.org/how-serious-is-labour-about-their-new-bovine-tb-strategy) - Government to review the last six years of bTB science for its 'refreshed' bovine TB strategy On 30th January 2025, Defra issued Terms of Reference (here) for the ‘comprehensive new bovine TB review’, that was announced last August. This included details of a scientific panel which will be reviewing 'new' evidence that has become available - [Brian May - The Badgers, the Farmers, and Me](https://thebadgercrowd.org/brian-may-the-badgers-the-farmers-and-me) - Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers, and Me’ is a documentary that was aired on BBC2 at 9.00pm on Friday 23 August, and is now available on the BBC iplayer. Filmed over 4 years, the programme charts Brian May’s journey as he explores the ongoing battle against bovine tuberculosis, and the differing views of both - [Bovine TB roundup 2024](https://thebadgercrowd.org/bovine-tb-roundup-2024) - Everything changes but stays the same? 2024 has been a remarkable year, where it seems that better awareness of the bovine TB scandal is emerging. Yet institutional forces struggle to grapple with poor science, the embarrassment of failing policy and the need for decisive steps to overcome decades of oversight, dogma and vested interest. In - [Important New Parliamentary Petition](https://thebadgercrowd.org/important-new-parliamentary-petition) - A new parliamentary petition has been launched by Protect the Wild. It states: The Government’s TB Eradication Strategy allows the continued killing of badgers, a protected species, until the end of this Parliament, despite the Labour manifesto calling the cull “ineffective.” We believe the badger cull is unjustified and must end. Some research has suggested - [APHA's Edge Area Bovine TB Epidemiology Reports for 2023](https://thebadgercrowd.org/aphas-epidemiology-reports-for-2023) - How's it going? The quotes in the table below are taken from the APHA county epidemiology reports recently released. Progress is clearly not on target. As seen in Oxfordshire (see here), bTB in the Edge Area is not being addressed with sufficient resources or the right approaches. The lack of adequate testing is so glaringly - [APHA’s ‘Edge of Disaster’ Area](https://thebadgercrowd.org/aphas-edge-of-disaster-area) - Bovine TB failings in Oxfordshire and beyond in 2023 The “Year End Descriptive Epidemiology Reports” for Bovine TB control were published by APHA online on 24th October for the Edge Area counties of: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. The report for Oxfordshire is the most extensive of - [Murky dealings in England and NI, and why ineffective badger culling continues](https://thebadgercrowd.org/murky-dealings-in-england-and-ni-and-why-ineffective-badger-culling-continues) - If it had been known last Christmas that a Labour government would be in power by July of this year, an imminent end of the cull would have been anticipated. With a public inquiry set up into how the killing of 230,000 badgers could ever have been allowed to happen. The science supporting culling has - [Gloucs Pilot Badger Cull Area no. 1: Farms Still Swamped With Bovine TB](https://thebadgercrowd.org/gloucestershire-cull-zone-back-to-square-1-after-11-years-of-culling) - The figures speaks for themselves. Herd BTB breakdowns in the very first cull area in Gloucestershire have changed little since 2013, after nine years of persistent badger culling. With a downward trend in 'confirmed' (OTFW) breakdowns prior to the start of culling, data is consistent with benefits from continued enhanced cattle controls hitting the limits - [Randomised Badger Culling Trial Unsprung - the uncertainties grow](https://thebadgercrowd.org/rbct-uncertainties-response-submitted) - The continuing questions over uncertainty in the published outcome of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) have rumbled on over the summer of 2024, and were reported on (here). Why are the statistical elements of the RBCT so important? Because the government badger cull policy rests all but entirely on them. It was the science - [Yet More Cumbria Badger Killings](https://thebadgercrowd.org/cumbria-killings) - Who is really in charge of Bovine TB control at Defra? It's very strange. The brand new Labour Government's manifesto says that badger culls are ‘ineffective’, yet they will ‘honour’ those existing ineffective cull contracts. Doesn’t sound right? Furthermore, they say that they will not issue new culling licences, but then issue a licence on 6th - [Defra outlines a refreshed bovine TB control badger strategy.](https://thebadgercrowd.org/defra-issue-refreshed-bovine-tb-eradication-strategy) - Defra has today (30th August 2024) announced plans for a refreshed bovine TB control badger strategy. Whilst it is good to see a clearly stated intention to stop culling badgers, that this will not happen before the end of the current parliament (2029) is completely unacceptable. These plans propose five more years of badger culling, - [Chief Vet’s targeted badger cull plans finally scrapped](https://thebadgercrowd.org/chief-vets-badger-cull-plans-finally-scrapped-but-the-war-on-bovine-tb-needs-to-step-up) - The ‘targeted’ badger culling proposals of the last Government are rejected by the new Labour Government but the ‘ineffective’ badger culls still continue, pending a further Review. Lawyers acting for Secretary of State for Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Steve Reed, have responded to ecologist Tom Langton’s Judicial Review Application - [The Defra Badger Cull consultation on the ‘targeted badger intervention’ policy – where are the swerves?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/the-defra-consultation-on-the-targeted-badger-intervention-policy-where-are-the-swerves) - The Defra consultation on more badger culling ends on Monday 13th May 2024, at midnight. Since it was launched on 14th March there has been increasing incredulity over how sketchy and confused it is. It is a classic example of how not to consult with the public over an extremely important decision on how to - [More or less? Truth, life and 56%](https://thebadgercrowd.org/more-or-less-truth-life-and-56) - August 2024 In life generally people crave the truth, learn from the truth and act on the truth. Truth is the universal source for learning, where trust develops, and where solutions to tackle the myriad of challenges that life throws at us are fostered. Yet, we all know that absolute truth is a fickle thing. - [RBCT uncertainties debate gains momentum](https://thebadgercrowd.org/another-extensive-reanalysis-of-the-rbct) - On December 13th 2022, a preprint was put up on the ResearchSquare platform. Entitled ‘Absence of effects of widespread badger culling on tuberculosis in cattle’ [1], it was a reanalysis of the Randomized Badger Culling Trials (RBCT). Following a protracted period of review, with a number of very long silences, and relatively few revisions, it - [New scientific paper shows that the badger cull was never going to work](https://thebadgercrowd.org/new-scientific-paper-shows-that-the-badger-cull-was-never-going-to-work) - This website has been reporting on the legal challenges to the badger culling policy and licences, and the science that has supposedly supported it since 2019. Over that time, there have been many jaw-dropping moments; government interference in peer-reviewed science, government scientists getting their data wrong in published letters, Natural England claiming that culling has - [Why are we waiting?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/why-are-we-waiting) - Things are starting to become slightly clearer as we near the point of discovery over the future of badger culling in England and beyond. Consultees to the online Defra Consultation questionnaire of 14th March were told this Monday (5th August) that an analysis of Consultation responses will be published in the autumn (Sept-Nov?) giving more - [Natural England’s rationale for licensing ineffective Supplementary Badger Culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/natural-englands-rationale-for-licensing-ineffective-supplementary-badger-culling) - Peter Brotherton, Director of Science at Natural England, issued his “Advice to Natural England’s Operations Team on Supplementary Badger Culling 2024” in April 2024, see here. It was released under Freedom of Information at the end of May. So how is supplementary culling being justified? Brotherton considers that the ‘key insights’ arising from his appraisal - [‘Badger culling forever’ legal case update](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-culling-forever-legal-case-update) - With all the changes in Government over the last month, it can be hard to keep track of the legal cases that are developing or underway to end badger culling. Badger Crowd has been supporting a case against the public consultation on bovine TB control by the departed Tory Government that began in March of - [The vigil of Betty Badger outside DEFRA offices in London](https://thebadgercrowd.org/the-vigil-of-betty-badger) - Betty Badger (AKA Mary Barton) has stood outside Defra offices in Marsham Street every Thursday for over 7 years now. She has done it in all weathers, sometimes unbearably hot, sometimes soaking wet, sometimes freezing cold. She is doing it to protest at the ongoing badger cull that has now killed over 230,000 badgers. She - [Oxford – we have a problem…............50,000 people think so](https://thebadgercrowd.org/oxford-we-have-a-problem-50000-people-agree) - On Thursday 18th July, as Keir Starmer visited Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, the Oxfordshire Badger Group (OBG) presented a petition, with over 50,000 signatures to Oxford University School of Biology in central Oxford. OBG called on Oxford University to own what it called “YOUR FLAWED SCIENCE” and asked them to “SPEAK OUT AGAINST BADGER EXTERMINATION.” OBG - [Labour and Badger Culling?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/labour-and-badger-culling) - In 2019, when Jeremy Corbyn was the leader of the Labour party, their manifesto stated clearly that, if elected, badger culling would stop. Labour under the leadership of Keir Starmer had a less clear position on badger culling, until Reform UK split the Conservative vote, and in the recent election manifesto it was said that - [Key badger scientist reviews recent badger culling science](https://thebadgercrowd.org/key-badger-scientist-reviews-recent-badger-culling-science) - Professor David MacDonald, founder and Director of the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford has reviewed the latest science on badger culling in a new report, ‘A Commentary on Current Policy’ for the Badger Trust charity. MacDonald, is one of a group of senior scientists at Oxford who advised on and helped - [Natural England refuses to stop licensing the badger cull](https://thebadgercrowd.org/natural-england-refuses-to-stop-licencing-the-badger-cull) - Badger Crowd can today reveal a letter from Natural England, stating that despite the sickening killing of over 230,000 badgers since 2013, the Natural England Board intends to continue with the failed and ineffective badger culls across England over the next two years. This despite the change to a Labour Government. In its years in opposition, - [Legal pressure grows as end to ineffective badger culls anticipated](https://thebadgercrowd.org/legal-pressure-on-badger-culls-grows-as-end-to-ineffective-badger-culls-anticipated) - This week yet more legal action is underway, seeking to end the failed badger culls. A Judicial Review Pre-Action Protocol Letter was sent to Natural England by the Badger Trust and Wild Justice, challenging the issue and authorisation of 26 supplementary badger culling licences in mid-May of this year. This follows the shocking content of - [PM Sunak contradicts his legal position on badger culling. Further Labour comments reported too.](https://thebadgercrowd.org/what-did-mr-sunak-say-about-the-badger-cull) - On 18th June, the BBC ran a story about Rishi Sunak on the election trail at an event In North Devon, where he was asked a question about his intentions concerning badger culling, should he remain Prime Minister. Badger culling was not mentioned in the Conservative manifesto, but he laid his cards on the table, - [Vote Labour, Vote Badger?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/vote-starmer-vote-badger) - As demonstrated by the above, a vote for Labour now looks in the very best interest of farmers, cows, badgers, and all the other wild and domestic animals that develop bovine tuberculosis. Why? Because a Labour Party source quoted in the Daily Telegraph last week has confirmed that a ‘new Bovine TB eradication package’ would - [This General Election, please campaign locally to help STOP the badger culls.](https://thebadgercrowd.org/this-election-campaign-to-stop-the-badger-culls) - It’s just three weeks until polling day for the General Election. We need badger supporters to step up once again, and to alert parliamentary candidates to the ongoing outrageous badger culls. There are two things to do: Firstly contact your constituency candidates and ask them if they will stop the culls, if they are elected. - [Defra’s zombie killing machine won’t stop](https://thebadgercrowd.org/defras-zombie-killing-machine-wont-stop) - DEFRA don’t want to vaccinate badgers, they want to keep killing them, against advice from Natural England. As the first badgers of summer 2024 are being killed outright by a shot to the heart, or scream and die slowly in pain, a Freedom of Information response released on 31st May has revealed a morass of - [Defra scraps pre-election badger cull ambition](https://thebadgercrowd.org/defra-drop-pre-election-cull-ambitions) - There has been a positive step forward. Defra have responded this afternoon about how they are handling Tom Langton's legal challenge to the recent badger culling consultation, that closed just before the General Election was announced last week. A Pre-Action Protocol letter challenged the lawfulness of Defra’s ‘targeted badger intervention’ policy consultation for several reasons - [Badger culls to continue in England despite lack of scientific evidence](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-culls-to-continue-in-england-despite-lack-of-scientific-evidence) - Read Helena Horton's exclusive here. - [STOP PRESS](https://thebadgercrowd.org/stop-press) - In March Rishi Sunak seemed intent on killing all the badgers by giving sweeping powers and a very free hand to the Chief Veterinary Officer to cull up to 100% of badgers in areas she deemed appropriate. Now he has now called a General Election for July 4th , which means that Parliament will - [GOVERNMENT BADGER CULL CONSULTATION - NEW LEGAL ACTION UNDERWAY](https://thebadgercrowd.org/government-badger-cull-consultation-new-legal-action-underway) - A pre-action protocol letter regarding proposals to evolve the badger control policy was sent to Defra on Thursday 16th May following closure of their extended consultation period on plans to continue badger culling using a so-called 'targeted' approach. Badger Crowd has had sight of the letter sent by lawyers to Defra that challenges aspects of - [Cracks appear at DEFRA](https://thebadgercrowd.org/cracks-appear-at-defra) - Badger Cull Consultation extended by 3 weeks to 13 May At around 5.00pm yesterday (19th April) Badger Crowd was sent Defra’s ‘stakeholder’ message that the badger cull consultation has been extended by 3 weeks. Due to end on Monday 22nd April, it will now finish on 13th May. One legal letter was sent to Defra - [*** URGENT *** IMPORTANT ***](https://thebadgercrowd.org/urgent-important) - Badger Cull Consultation Advice There is now just a little over a week left to comment on the Defra consultation on what it wants to do next to badgers in the name of bovine TB control in cattle. As you probably know, the consultation is inaccurate and very badly justified. Consultation responses must be in - [Help Stop the Badger Cull U-turn](https://thebadgercrowd.org/stop-the-badger-cull-u-turn) - Kamikaze bovine TB consultation – will it crash and burn? On Thursday 28th March 2024 two solicitors’ letters were sent to the government. They express grave concerns over aspects of the Defra five-week badger culling consultation that began on 14th March, and attempts to bring about a policy u-turn on the phasing out of badger - [Defra Badger Cull Consultation](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-cull-u-turn) - What does it say and mean? On 14th March, Defra launched a new consultation: “Bovine TB: Consultation on proposals to evolve badger control policy and introduce additional cattle measures” A five week consultation period ends on 22 April, so here is a digest of what is proposed. It's is a bit long, but important if - [Veterinary Record exposes yet more government bovine TB failings](https://thebadgercrowd.org/veterinary-record-exposes-yet-more-government-bovine-tb-failings) - The respected journal Veterinary Record included two short News and Reports articles on government bovine TB news last Friday 15th March, just a day after their consultation to 'evolve badger cull policy' was announced. The first covered a story we have written about in our blog (here) regarding the downsizing of the government bTB partnership. - [New badger cull U-turn signals the end of the Badger Protection Act in England](https://thebadgercrowd.org/new-badger-cull-plans-point-to-end-of-the-badger-protection-act-in-england) - Defra have today announced a 5-week consultation on chilling plans to kill 100% of badgers (also known as epi-culling) in bovine TB affected areas. Rowing back on the pledge for its use only in rare exceptions, this is effectively an increase on the cull limits imposed since culling started in 2013. It is set to - [The DEFRA Bovine TB Partnership: Shambles or Scandal?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/the-defra-bovine-tb-partnership-shambles-or-scandal) - Dick Sibley removed from the Governments BTB Partnership According to TB HuB, (1) The Bovine TB Partnership comprises members with “extensive experience and expertise in the farming industry, private veterinary profession, non-government organisations, academia, local authorities, and government.” It is managed by Defra and has ‘Member organisations’ including the Animal and Plant Health Agency, National - [BTB decline - has cause & effect been shown?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/has-cause-effect-been-proved) - Cattle testing, and not badger culling, is helping control bovine TB in England Published, peer-reviewed science on the efficacy of badger culling has failed to find an association between intensive badger culling and either the incidence or prevalence of bovine TB in cattle herds (here). In plain English, data on levels of bTB show that - [U-turn on phase out? Defra to consult on 100% badger culling.](https://thebadgercrowd.org/defra-to-consult-on-100-badger-culling) - Eleven years of intensive badger culls in England have left over a quarter of a million mostly healthy badgers, dead using cruel methods. This has been justified on the back of a hypothesis that any infected badgers frequently spread bovine TB to cattle. There is very little science to back this up, and no credible - [Badgers back in (Belfast) court](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badgers-back-in-belfast-court) - With the use of the farming industry press, the farming sector is being hoodwinked into thinking that badger culling could somehow help them. Or is badger culling perhaps, as in England, being used as a delaying tactic and distraction from real epidemiological solutions that would prevent both disease and help end dependence on constant public - [A letter to the Prime Minister](https://thebadgercrowd.org/a-letter-to-the-prime-minister) - A letter signed by 30 veterinary and environmental professionals has today been sent to the outgoing Prime Minster Boris Johnson and other members of the government calling for an immediate moratorium on badger culling in England. Those signing the letter include the three authors of a recently published peer-reviewed paper (read here) on the efficacy - [Badger culling and BTB data:](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-culling-and-btb-data) - Middlemiss and Henderson say sorry for getting it wrong As previously blogged on 18th March here, the respected journal Veterinary Record published a new scientific appraisal of the effect of badger culling on bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in the High Risk Area of England using government data collected from farmers and vets for over a decade. - ["Next Steps" Defra consultation expires](https://thebadgercrowd.org/next-steps-consultation-expires) - Revised 27th April Defra closed the 27th January consultation without allowing time to consider the implications of the 10th March data release. They have said they will respond to points raised by 6th April and the matter is now being considered by legal experts. Here are extracts from a consultation response by Tom Langton, based - [Licensing Question: whose job to monitor the Predators and Prey?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/threat-to-badger-culls-across-england-as-legal-challenge-mounted-by-campaigner) - An article in the Farmers Guardian (17.05.19) reports on certain conditions which Natural England are attaching to this year’s badger cull licenses as a result of legal challenges. The action in 2018 relating to 2017 licences was against Natural England’s omission of proper process in scrutiny of potential ecological impacts and did not particularise the - [Defra’s consultation on the 2020 ‘Next Steps’ badger culling policy](https://thebadgercrowd.org/defras-consultation-on-the-2020-next-steps-badger-culling-policy) - In recent years Defra have made no secret of the fact that they aim to continue badger culling after the current intensive culls finish at the end of January 2026. The 2020 bovine TB policy outlined the intention to continue badger culling in ‘exceptional' circumstances. APHA have been piloting a new ‘reactive’ style culling policy - [Has APHA finally seen the TB light?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/has-apha-finally-seen-the-tb-light) - A shift of emphasis Was it the damning April report on the failed Cumbria badger culls that has led to the clear change in the way that APHA's is now attributing source of bTB infection in cattle? Have the crazy proposals for the so-called ‘epidemiological culling’ policy been recognised for the epidemiological nonsense that they - [Setting out the truth about badgers in black and white](https://thebadgercrowd.org/setting-out-the-truth-about-badgers-in-black-and-white) - The Northern Ireland Badger Group together with the USPCA has published a new factsheet on dispelling the myths on the role badgers play in the spread of Bovine TB (bTB). This follows a recent court outcome which has stopped a proposed badger cull in Northern Ireland. Last month, both organisations welcomed the ruling from a - [What next for Northern Ireland’s bovine TB strategy?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/what-next-for-northern-irelands-bovine-tb-strategy) - As Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) considers the fallout from the recent court judgement quashing their plan to shoot badgers in Northern Ireland, what does the future now hold for their bovine TB strategy? DAERA’s current policy carried forward the main elements of the strategy proposed in 2016 by the - [Rescheduled! Friday 24th November Badger Cull Protest - 10 Years On](https://thebadgercrowd.org/rescheduled-friday-24th-november-badger-cull-protest-10-years-on) - Originally scheduled for 20th October, the '10 Years On Badger Cull Protest' had to be cancelled due to Storm Babet. But we are ready to go again on Friday 24th November. The early years of the badger cull from 2013 saw over 50 protest demonstrations and walks in towns and cities around England. Badger lovers, - [APHA, evidence and distortion – the badger blame game continues](https://thebadgercrowd.org/apha-evidence-and-distortion-the-badger-blame-game-continues) - A new analysis of Bovine TB data by the Animal and Plant Health Agency “Difference in Differences analysis evaluates the effects of the Badger Control Policy on Bovine Tuberculosis in England”, by Colin P.D. Birch, Mayur Bakrania, Alison Prosser, Dan Brown, Susan M. Withenshaw, and Sara H. Downs. This new analysis was posted as a - [Belfast Court Rules Northern Ireland Badger Cull Plans Were Flawed](https://thebadgercrowd.org/belfast-court-rules-northern-ireland-badger-cull-plans-were-flawed) - Mr Justice Scoffield has quashed the NI government attempt to introduce controversial badger culling to Northern Ireland. Granting a judicial review brought by wildlife NGO's funded by public donation, he said that consultees were not told enough - and in sufficiently clear terms - to enable them to make an intelligent response in the consultation exercise. - [Defra’s last stand?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/defras-last-stand) - APHA show a little bit of their hand at last In March 2022, a peer-reviewed analysis of badger culling data was published in a top veterinary journal. It used all publicly available data. It showed no detectable difference in bovine TB breakdown between badger culled areas and unculled areas since 2013 (1). Now, after a - [POSTPONED DUE TO BAD WEATHER! Stand by for new date. Badger Cull Protest 10 Years On](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-cull-protest-10-years-on) - The early years of the badger cull from 2013 saw over 50 protest demonstrations and walks in towns and cities around England. Badger lovers, nature conservationists and members of the public were incredulous and angry that the government was sanctioning a slaughter of tens of thousands of healthy iconic badgers on the basis of a - [The Failed Badger Culls - a brief history and why the fight is not yet over.](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-culling-a-brief-resume-of-its-history-what-to-expect-next) - Episodic and patchy badger culling has been taking place in England over the last 50 years in an attempt to influence the bovine TB epidemic in cattle herds. And there have also been several ‘experimental’ badger cull trials over that time, the largest of which was the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (1998-2005). The current ‘proactive’ - [Post-Normal Science - Fact, Fantasy and the BBC (again)](https://thebadgercrowd.org/post-normal-science-fact-fantasy-and-the-bbc-again) - A quick look at the BBC farming media and sociology, touching on 'tribalism', the BTB Partnership and 'avoiding the facts'. The result: a perfect storm to confuse bovine tuberculosis control. In 2022 DEFRA took steps, but failed, to try to stop published peer-reviewed science being published in the Veterinary Record (here, here, here and here), - [What is going on with bovine TB in north Wales?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/what-is-going-on-in-wales) - Some observers may have noticed bovine TB breakdowns figures for Wales have levelled-off in recent years. For the first time in a long while they are showing a divergence away from the progress of herd breakdown trends that until recently was largely parallel with England.See the data here. And here: Since 2021, north Wales has - [NEW REPORT: A Bovine Tuberculosis Policy Conundrum in 2023](https://thebadgercrowd.org/new-report-a-bovine-tuberculosis-policy-conundrum-in-2023) - A team of researchers and veterinarians have concluded an urgent need for rapid change to bTB policy for England, warning the present focus on badgers is undermining efforts to combat the disease.You can read the report HERE: The Independent story on the report "Government’s badger cull plan ‘deeply flawed’, damning report warns" is available here. - [Out & about in Oxford this week](https://thebadgercrowd.org/out-about-in-oxford) - Badgers have been speaking up for themselves in Oxford this week. They have been making their presence felt, raising awareness of the current government badger cull policy, and explaining what the future of badger culling could look like in Oxfordshire. Now that Minister Therese Coffey has thrown doubt over government previously stated intentions to stop - [BBC misleading again on badger culling?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/bbc-misleading-on-badger-culling) - 10 years on and the BBC repeats acknowledged errors, misleading the public on badger culling On 13th May 2013, the BBC posted an article entitled “How did the Irish badger cull play out?”.On 1st June 2013, this report was produced on the impact of the badger cull in Ireland. Both of these pieces were by - [Is APHA's approach to bTB control negligent?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/is-aphas-approach-to-btb-control-negligent) - The annual bovine TB epidemiology reports (1) for England and Wales, both compiled at APHA Weybridge, have historically had authors in common. More recently however, the reports no longer publish the identity of the authors. Why might this be? What we see now is a definite disparity in approach, presentation and implication. The emphasis on - [Long-term protection for badgers in Bas-Rhin, France](https://thebadgercrowd.org/long-term-protection-for-badgers-in-bas-rhin-france) - Monday, May 15 was World Badger Day, but in France protection depends on which side of a boundary the badgers are. Badgers are not all in the same boat in the Alsace region of France. There are the lucky ones, in the department of Bas-Rhin, where hunting is not allowed. Sadly, their neighbours, in the - [Bovine TB and Badgers: a weakened link](https://thebadgercrowd.org/bovine-tb-and-badgers-a-weakened-link) - A new article in the May issue of British Wildlife magazine provides an overview of the current state of affairs with badger culling in England, and a welcome update on the science surrounding the issue. It looks at new work that questions the role that badgers play in bovine TB in cattle, and what the - [Where are they killing badgers?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/where-are-they-killing-badgers) - Below is a summary table of the number of badger cull zones in each county of England since 2013 and those predicted according to government indications until 2025 (end of January 2026). A measure of culling intensity is the number of cull areas, although some counties such as Somerset are far larger than others. It’s - [Last night in the House of Lords](https://thebadgercrowd.org/last-night-in-the-house-of-lords) - Last night (15th May) in the House of Lords, Amendment 47 of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill was discussed. There were a couple of points raised which will be of interest to those following the science of badger culling. The amendment, moved by The Earl of Caithness, was described thus: 47: Clause 17, page - [“A culture of flawed government veterinary beliefs”](https://thebadgercrowd.org/a-culture-of-flawed-government-veterinary-beliefs) - Independent Report Exposes Unsafe Procedures in Bovine TB Control in English Cattle A new report on the possible future use of so called ‘epidemiological badger culling’ is being released to MPs and Parliament on 11th May 2023. Compiled over the last year by a group of independent experts, it looks closely at one specific - [The Canary sings: government adds multiple extensions to existing badger cull areas](https://thebadgercrowd.org/the-canary-sings-government-adds-multiple-extensions-to-existing-badger-cull-areas) - Last Friday, The Canary online published a story about how large scale badger culling continues to be extended, despite government claims in 2020 that it is being phased out. It reports on Freedom Of Information disclosures that show Natural England approved 10 cull extensions in 2022 in addition to declaring new areas. This amounted to - [Badger cull science failure, denials and confusion](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-cull-science-failure-denials-and-confusion) - Since mid-March 2022, Defra has persisted with its claims regarding an independent scientific paper (1) that extensively analysed government data on herd bTB incidence and prevalence in the High Risk Area of England since 2010. The paper compares areas subject to badger culling with those that were not culled in each year of the controversial - [Revision to eco-impacts science journal abstract draws attention to government impact-deniers](https://thebadgercrowd.org/revision-to-eco-impacts-science-journal-abstract-draws-attention-to-government-impact-deniers) - The Abstract of a paper on the potential harmful impacts of badger culling on other species and habitats in the Journal of Zoology (1) this year has been amended to better reflect the contents of the paper. The original Abstract of the paper, whose authors include two Natural England employees working alongside researchers from the - [Will Government Secrecy on Key Bovine TB and Badger Cull Data Prevail?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/will-government-secrecy-on-key-bovine-tb-and-badger-cull-data-prevail) - Tribunal sits to reconsider Information Commissioner’s decision. Badger Cull Data Tribunal Hearing on 01 November 2022. EA/2022/0007 This week, Dr Brian Jones appealed to the first-tier tribunal of the General Regulatory Chamber (Information Rights) in an online hearing coordinated by the GRC Team in Leicester. It concerned a ruling by the Information Commissioner upholding the - [Natural England and the 2022 cull licences](https://thebadgercrowd.org/natural-england-and-the-2022-cull-licences) - Over the last three years, the science base for badger culling has shrivelled away from 'not very much', to nothing. It has regressed from speculation that it might enable a modest annual reduction of bTB in cattle, to the reality that after 7 years of study, there is no measurable benefit when comparing herd breakdown - [Did BTO help Natural England breach its High Court promises to monitor the ecological impacts of mass badger removal?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/did-bto-help-natural-england-breach-its-high-court-promises-to-monitor-the-ecological-impacts-of-mass-badger-removal) - Another chance to read an important guest article entiled; 'Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data, badger culls, Natural England and the British Trust for Ornithology: New paper, same old.' by Dominic Woodfield that first appeared on Mark Avery's blog on 23rd September Dominic Woodfield is a highly experienced practitioner in Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations - [Tony Juniper, a new King, and the ecological impact of killing badgers](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tony-juniper-a-new-king-and-the-ecological-impact-of-killing-badgers) - Dominic Dyer, chairing the State of the Earth evening session at Birdfair on 15th July this year, asked two of his assembled panel guests about badger culling. The first, Sir Iain Boyd, the former Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) to Defra commented, beyond his usual emphasis that the problem is more with people than badgers, that - [The Daily Mail, Defra and the bTB story that just keeps growing](https://thebadgercrowd.org/the-daily-mail-defra-and-the-btb-story-that-just-keeps-growing) - The Mail story was published on Tuesday 30th August and names Eleanor Brown as the senior official who wrote to VR Editor Susanne Jarvis on 2nd March 2022, just a few weeks before the paper appeared in print. It laid down extensive criticisms aimed at the manuscript that they had been sent ahead of publication, - [Defra’s efforts to pervert the course of science](https://thebadgercrowd.org/defras-efforts-to-pervert-the-course-of-science) - Defra were caught out by freedom of information (FOI) disclosures, leaning heavily on Veterinary Record journal staff, and using emotive language, over an accepted academic manuscript. This new scientific paper analysed the governments own bovine TB and badger culling data. It was published by independent researchers on 18th March (see here). Defra lashed out in - [Human TB - Bovine TB. Lessons to be learnt and three simple questions for DEFRA](https://thebadgercrowd.org/human-tb-bovine-tb-lessons-to-be-learnt-and-three-simple-questions-for-defra) - While Defra hold on to a now disproven view that badger culling is needed for control of bTB in cattle, there remain important omissions, contradictions & unanswered questions in their approach to the current management policy. For a start, the management of Bovine TB (bTB) is still plagued by the inaccuracies of currently used tests - [DEFRA called out over flawed bovine TB claims at international vet conference](https://thebadgercrowd.org/defra-called-out-over-flawed-bovine-tb-claims-at-international-vet-conference) - The UK's Animal and Plant Agency statistician Colin Birch was roundly criticized for his presentation yesterday (12/08/22) at the 16th International Symposium of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE 16) held at Halifax Convention Centre, Halifax Nova Scotia, Canada. Birch presented data from badger killing zones in England in recent years, with no proper explanation as - [Environmental principles ‘usurped’ as Badger Cull ecological impacts case is hijacked](https://thebadgercrowd.org/environmental-principles-usurped-as-badger-cull-ecological-impacts-case-is-hijacked) - On Tuesday 26th July 2022 at the Court of Appeal in London, case CA-2021-001918 was heard: The Queen on the Application of Langton v The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs & Anr was heard in Court 71. The presiding judges were Lady Justice Macur, Lord Justice Haddon-Cave and Lord Justice Dingemans. - [Outcome of the ecological impacts legal case at the Court of Appeal on 26 July](https://thebadgercrowd.org/outcome-of-the-ecological-impacts-legal-case-at-the-court-of-appeal-on-26-july) - A detailed account of the legal aspects of what happened last Tuesday 26th is currently being prepared with the help of legal advisors. This is an initial summary of what happened, what it means and where we go from here. The investment of many people in this legal case has been considerable, with a large - [Reactions to George Eustice avoiding fair legal scrutiny](https://thebadgercrowd.org/reactions-to-george-eustice-avoiding-fair-legal-scrutiny) - The deeply disappointing news is that the legal Appeal, granted by the Court of Appeal in April and reopening the judgements in the High Court of Mr Justice Griffiths in 2021, has at the last minute been refused. It would have examined the claim of judicial error over potential ecological impacts of badger culling, and - [Badger Culls, Biodiversity, Birds, and the High Court](https://thebadgercrowd.org/private-badger-culls-biodiversity-birds-and-the-high-court) - For an in-depth preview of the upcoming Court of Appeal hearing (Tuesday July 26th) on aspects of the ecological impacts of badger culling, have a listen to this ‘Off the Leash’ podcast of Charlie Moores talking to Tom Langton & Dominic Woodfield. It’s a sobering story of how difficult it is to get justice for badgers - [About that BTO report......](https://thebadgercrowd.org/about-that-bto-report) - British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) opens up about its ‘secret’ work for Natural England. Gavin Siriwardena, a BTO ecologist, has been writing online about his experience of working with Natural England (NE). Please see the third comment below the guest piece by Dominic Woodfield on Mark Avery’s blog here. He writes regarding the prolonged suppression - [Badger cull eco-impacts to be heard next week:](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-cull-eco-impacts) - Court of Appeal hearing date has been set for Tuesday July 26th Next week: Tuesday 26th July, the Court of Appeal in London will reconsider the 2021 Judicial Review finding, in respect of the judgement of Justice Griffiths in the High Court. This is relates to the Secretary of State’s (George Eustice) alleged failure to - [Badgers back in court in July](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badgers-back-in-court-in-july) - Who tampered with the data when examining potential ecosystem impacts? In the last week of July 2022, the Court of Appeal in London will reconsider the 2021 Judicial Review findings of Defra's alleged failures, under their NERC Act (2006) duty in relation to badger culling. The original claim was that of a failure of government - [Defra 'tribalism' tries to undermine bTB study?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/what-defra-did-next) - Many badger campaigners will know Mary Barton, aka Betty Badger, who stands up for badgers outside Defra offices each Thursday, and has done for many years. On Thursday 17th March, she was granted a meeting in person with Environment Secretary George Eustice. He told Mary that he thought the study was 'flawed'. Then on 18th - [Defra in Denial?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/defra-in-denial) - A new peer reviewed scientific analysis (Langton et al.) of the effects of the current badger cull was published in Veterinary Record on March 18th this year. Alongside the summary of the paper, Defra published a rebuttal of the science. There followed a conversation in Vet Record over the Langton et al. data versus the - [Why were you Wicked to Badgers?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badgers-and-the-wicked) - Book Review: A History of Uncertainty - Bovine Tuberculosis in Britain 1850 to the Present, Peter J Atkins, 2016, Winchester University Press(Link to the online chapters of this book (free subscription required) here.) By Tom Langton Back in 2016, having just begun a detailed examination of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) (1), this book - [Christine Middlemiss, Gideon Henderson and the Defra bovine TB data fiasco](https://thebadgercrowd.org/christine-middlemiss-gideon-henderson-and-the-bovine-tb-data-fiasco) - In March 2022 the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) Christine Middlemiss & Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) Gideon Henderson joined Defra Media Centre in attacking a peer-reviewed, freshly published scientific paper on bovine TB control (Langton et al.), stating that they thought it was flawed, and had ‘inappropriate’ analysis, see here. The graph the CVO & CSA - [Why Defra's Badger Vaccination Proposals Risk Perpetuating Further Culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/why-defras-badger-vaccination-proposals-risk-perpetuating-further-culling) - Today, the Government has released its plans for a new and simplified licencing system to facilitate badger vaccination. While on the face of it these plans appear to be helpful for those who wish to see an end to the culling of badgers, wildlife campaigners are concerned that they will be used as a smokescreen, - [Thanks to Wild Justice](https://thebadgercrowd.org/thanks-to-wild-justice) - We were delighted to receive a generous £1000 donation from the mighty Wild Justice last week. This was a contribution towards our badger cull ecological impacts appeal case, which has been expedited to be heard in June or July 2022. You can read more about this here. Wild Justice, set up in 2019 and run - [Badger cull ecological impacts case -](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-cull-ecological-impacts-case) - Did Defra breach its 'duty of candour' to the courts ? On Wednesday 13th April, the Rt. Hon. Lady Justice Simler granted permission for the High Court decision in Langton v Defra (case ref: CO/2062/2020) to be challenged in the Court of Appeal. The High Court case had been dismissed on 9 August 2021 by - [Permission Granted!](https://thebadgercrowd.org/permission-granted) - Court of Appeal confirm new hearing regarding the ecological impacts of badger culling (NERC Act 2006). Judicial Review Case: CO/2062/2020 The Badger Crowd is pleased to confirm that an Application to the Court of Appeal has been successful, reopening the judgements in the High Court of Mr Justice Griffiths in 2021. The appeal has taken - [It must surely be time to kill the badger cull?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/surely-its-now-time-to-kill-the-badger-cull) - A new article for BBC Wildlife Magazine by James Fair takes a look at newly published peer reviewed research that concludes that the badger cull isn't working. It’s worth a read because it puts the new analysis into the context of the historical background of bTB and the previous analyses of the results of badger - [2021 - it's been another bad year for badgers and cattle](https://thebadgercrowd.org/2021-another-bad-year-for-badgers-cows) - This 'end of year' brings an opportunity to share collective thanks for everyone’s efforts to inform and support the legal action for badgers and their wild communities. Those actions that are being considered and planned, and those that are currently in progress. Take a moment to ponder how many of us continue to work on - [Supplementary Culling in retreat, but the war against English badgers continues](https://thebadgercrowd.org/supplementary-culling-in-retreat-but-the-war-against-english-badgers-continues) - On 27th January 2021, Defra published a new consultation on parts of its March 2020 "Next Steps" Bovine TB eradication policy for England. This aims to continue to mass kill badgers in the last 30% or so of badger strongholds in the High Risk Area of the West of England and across parts of the - [The Badger Vaccination Trap and the Geronimo Effect](https://thebadgercrowd.org/the-badger-vaccination-trap-and-the-geronimo-effect) - When the March 2020 “Next Steps” Bovine TB policy was released, there was a rumour from inside DEFRA HQ, that its senior officials were secretly in despair. This related to compromises over its content, and the prospects to implement it in the years to come. The policy was considered by many to be, ‘something for - [Scientists, Disease and Communicating Uncertainty](https://thebadgercrowd.org/scientists-disease-and-communicating-uncertainty) - Retracing the history of the supposed role of badgers in the cattle bTB epidemic shows that this is far from settled science. by Tom Langton Uncertainty has surrounded the coronavirus pandemic and its control over the last five months. But over the last fifty years, uncertainty has hindered the tackling of a bovine tuberculosis (bTB) - [Badger Culling and Vaccination: Where is the March 2020 “Next Steps” policy trying to take us?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-culling-and-vaccination-where-is-the-march-2020-next-steps-policy-trying-to-take-us) - Last Thursday 23rd September, Hertfordshire and Middlesex Badger Group hosted a webinar to look closely at the governments “Next Steps” strategy for achieving bovine tuberculosis free status for England. Ecologist Tom Langton kicked off the event with a presentation on the policy as it relates to badger vaccination. It was very sobering. In contrast to - [Ecological Impacts (NERC Act 2006) Judicial Review: Application to the Court of Appeal.](https://thebadgercrowd.org/ecological-impacts-nerc-act-2006-application-at-the-court-of-appeal) - The Badger Crowd is pleased to confirm that an Application to the Court of Appeal has been made and that further legal papers are to follow shortly. The case concerns whether the High Court Mr Justice Griffiths was correct to rule that there was no need for the Minister to take steps to have regard - [Application to Appeal underway for dismissed ecological impacts Judicial Review](https://thebadgercrowd.org/application-to-appeal-underway-for-dismissed-ecological-impacts-judicial-review) - Mr Justice Griffiths's judgement on the recent Judicial Review of the ecological impacts of badger culling in England is now to be challenged. Claims against the Secretary of State George Eustice concerning the government’s biodiversity duty, under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERCA) were dismissed recently, after the July 2021 hearing. Following - [High Court judge decides that Defra 2020 badger cull policy does not trigger protection of biodiversity under the 2006 NERC Act](https://thebadgercrowd.org/high-court-judge-decides-that-defra-2020-badger-cull-policy-does-not-trigger-protection-of-biodiversity-under-the-2006-nerc-act) - Today, Mr Justice Griffiths handed down a High Court judgement on the most recent Judicial Review on the ecological impacts of badger culling in England. He dismissed the claims made against the Secretary of State George Eustice, concerning the need for consideration of measures to protect species and habitats in the wider countryside, under the - [Badgers back in in Court](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badgers-back-in-in-court) - Did the government forget about Biodiversity? On Thursday 22 July, in Court no. 2 of the Royal Courts of Justice, London, the latest Judicial Review surrounding badger culling was heard: The Queen on the application of Thomas Langton vs The Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Natural England: Case C0/2062/2020. - [Funds urgently needed for Badger Cull High Court challenge](https://thebadgercrowd.org/funds-urgently-needed-for-badger-cull-high-court-challenge) - A new crowdfunding appeal is launched today via the Crowd Justice website. The Court of Appeal at the Royal Courts of Justice has awarded ecologist Tom Langton, permission to challenge an important aspect of the 2020 "Next Steps" Bovine TB eradication policy. The trial will test whether government failed to meet its statutory duty to - [Biodiversity Catastrophe](https://thebadgercrowd.org/biodiversity-catastrophe) - Badger cull case will test UK commitment to wildlife legislation A High Court Judicial Review in London this Thursday 22 July is a timely test of the extent to which DEFRA has ‘had regard’ to biodiversity protection. The claim is that Secretary of State George Eustice failed to protect wildlife, as is required by the - [We reached our fundraising target!](https://thebadgercrowd.org/we-reached-our-fundraising-target) - Thank You Thanks are due to everyone – to those who supported the 2017 challenges and to those joining us afresh. To those who helped promote the CrowdJustice crowdfunder and those who donated to it. It seemed like a mountain to climb just a few weeks ago, but you all stepped up to make it - [Go Wild for Wild Justice!](https://thebadgercrowd.org/go-wild-for-wild-justice) - Great news this morning. Wild Justice, the UK organisation fighting for justice for wildlife, run by Mark Avery, Ruth Tingay and Chris Packham are sending over unspent funds from their badger killing welfare legal challenge. This was recently refused permission for Judicial Review, meaning that the disgracefully cruel and ineffective way of killing predominantly healthy - [Two more bits of good news......](https://thebadgercrowd.org/two-more-bits-of-good-news) - Firstly, the Legal Challenge fundraiser for the NERC Act 2006 case has passed its first target of £8,000 in just over a week. Great going. Huge thanks to everyone who has donated, promoted the campaign and put the appeal out on social media over the last few days, especially the Badger Trust. Badgers and biodiversity - [Two bits of news...........](https://thebadgercrowd.org/two-bits-of-news) - Permission granted for Judicial Review of aspects of the 2020 “Next Steps” bTB eradication policy On 9th May, the Court of Appeal granted permission for a Judicial Review, with a ruling by Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Bean. The Ground of challenge approved for scrutiny concerns a decision made by the Secretary of State George Eustice - [Is the Badger Cull Consultation unlawful?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/1598-2) - Revised 27th April 2021 George Eustice’s Badger Cull consultation misrepresents reality. Tony Juniper should prevent Natural England processing further licences based on the flawed Ministerial claim. On the 18th March, the Badger Crowd was pleased to see a solicitor's letter being sent to the Government Legal Department and Natural England raising serious concerns over Defra's - [Does Natural England care for Badgers, Hen Harriers and other wildlife?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/does-natural-england-really-care-about-badgers-and-hen-harriers) - In recent days, Natural England has released its Habitat Regulations Assessments (HRA) for the disgusting and incompetent 2020 licensed badger culls, currently underway as a part of the wider failed bovine TB strategy. This follows release recently too, under FOI of the updated (July 2019) NE “Guidance on evaluating the ecological consequences of badger culling - [Freedom of (some) Information - recent release by Natural England in full](https://thebadgercrowd.org/freedom-of-some-information-recent-release-by-natural-england-in-full) - Here are the recent FOI releases from Natural England, provided in 4 Zip files, responding to a query regarding the following Twitter post by Tony Juniper. We asked what the mentioned Natural England 'advice' regarding the badger cull was. In their reply, NE said:"You asked for: Please make available to me a copy of advice - [Vermin, Victims and Disease](https://thebadgercrowd.org/vermin-victims-and-disease) - British Debates over Bovine Tuberculosis and Badgers by Angela Cassidy Hardcover – 2 Oct 2019, Palgrave Macmillan, 366 pp. Free download at Wiley Online Library Book Review by Tom Langton Writing the history of complex things is challenging. The word Vermin is eye-catching, enticing the reader into what is billed as - [High Court says Minister George Eustice may reject science advice and choose the science he needs, as a 'political' decision.](https://thebadgercrowd.org/high-court-repeats-finding-that-badger-cull-decisions-can-be-political-decisions) - Case CO/2062/2020, Wednesday, 14th October, 2020 The High Court held a Judicial Review permission hearing in Court 16 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London last week; The Queen on the application of Langton v Secretary Of State For Environment Food And Rural Affairs. The matter was before Mr Justice Cavanagh and the requirement - [DEFRA RESPONSE TO GODFRAY REVIEW dated 05 March 2020](https://thebadgercrowd.org/defra-response-to-godfray-review-dated-05-march-2020) - Many of you will have noticed the publicity surrounding the unexpected release of the above report entitled DEFRA (2020) Next steps for the strategy for achieving bovine tuberculosis free status for England. The government’s response to the strategy review, 2018. Most of the newspapers ran dramatic stories, talking of a seismic shift and U-turn in - [Is DIVA bovine TB test a breakthrough?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/is-diva-bovine-tb-test-a-breakthrough) - Is Defra serious about vaccinating cattle against bTB? If they were, they would need a DIVA test to distinguish between infected & vaccinated animals. Over £20 million has been invested in research to find an accurate DIVA test over the last 20 years. So is the latest Defra hype about their new specific peptide antigen - [Renewal required for “Next Steps” High Court challenge](https://thebadgercrowd.org/renewal-required-for-next-steps-high-court-challenge) - There has been a flurry of activity in recent days. Following notice from the High Court and detailed considerations by the legal team this week, representatives will today apply for a ‘renewal’ hearing. This is in order fulfil the aim of progressing to a full Judicial Review hearing as soon as possible. Other aspects of - [Fundraising Target Reached, Thank You](https://thebadgercrowd.org/target-reached-thank-you) - The Crowd Justice fundraiser for Badger Crowd’s legal action has seen a flurry of donations over the last few days. And so it is very pleasing to be able to tell you that, together with a number of offline donations, we have now reached the £18,000 target necessary to enable our lawyers to complete the - [Does the badger cull spell trouble for ground-nesting birds?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/does-the-badger-cull-spell-trouble-for-ground-nesting-birds) - The Ends Report has put out a further piece by James Fairs here, on Natural England’s licensing of the badger cull and the risk that 'carnivore release effects' from removing badgers could have a clear-cut or subtle, yet profound damaging impact on our countryside. Last year during a Judicial Review hearing into whether adequate assessments had - [Natural England ‘don’t have a clue’ as NFU rejects data gathering.](https://thebadgercrowd.org/natural-england-dont-have-a-clue-as-nfu-rejects-data-gathering) - In an article by Rachel Salvidge, published by the ENDs Report on 13 May here, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP for the Cotswolds is reported to have said the idea that the badger cull increases fox numbers is “flawed” . Cull companies were being asked for data that they “don’t have because they hadn’t been asked - [New Legal Challenge Against Badger Culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/new-legal-challenge-against-badger-culling) - First of all, a huge congratulations to Wild Justice for reaching the funding target for their latest legal challenge on the humaneness of the free shooting of badgers as licensed by Natural England. Follow @WildJustice_org on Twitter, or sign up to their newsletter on the Wild Justice web site to receive email updates with the - [Update on Fundraiser Progress](https://thebadgercrowd.org/update-on-fundraiser-progress) - Thank you so much for all your kind messages of support and generous donations over the first few days of the appeal. In addition to the Badger Trust's generous donation to get the challenge started, we have had several 'offline' pledges, so we are now over half way to our preliminary target. The Badger Trust - [Badger Trust Statement, 9th July 2020](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-trust-statement-9th-july-2020) - Government faces two new legal challenges as it seeks to expand controversial badger cull policy Permission for two Judicial Review legal cases is being sought against the government as it seeks to expand its highly controversial badger cull policy in 2020. Wild Justice legal challenge The first case is being taken by Wild Justice, - [Natural England keep supplementary culling, despite Gloucestershire bTB spike](https://thebadgercrowd.org/natural-england-keep-supplementary-culling-despite-gloucestershire-btb-spike) - Yesterday was a surprising day. In the morning lawyers for the claimant received a letter from Natural England, here, saying they had not yet decided whether to re-authorise the supplementary badger cull licenses in 2019. They claimed that “the representations made in your letter regarding the effectiveness of supplementary culling may be considered by the - [Supplementary culling goes full-steam ahead](https://thebadgercrowd.org/supplementary-culling-goes-full-steam-ahead) - Yesterday in the House of Commons, Stephen Lloyd, Independent MP for Eastbourne said the following: “Given the extended roll-out, it is estimated that about 150,000 badgers will have been culled by the end of 2020. This animal, which has been around since the ice age, faces extinction in various parts of the country.” Given that - [Court of Appeal Hearing, London 2nd July](https://thebadgercrowd.org/court-of-appeal-hearing-london-2nd-july) - On July 2nd, the Court of Appeal heard the challenge to the decisions of Sir Ross Cranston in the High Court in July 2018 (Langton -v- The Secretary of State for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs and Natural England). The Court sat between 10.30am and 4.10pm, with much of the proceedings (the morning and - [Waiting for the Appeal Hearing outcome.......](https://thebadgercrowd.org/waiting-for-the-appeal-hearing-outcome) - It’s been a month now since our High Court Appeal hearing, and the important matter of ‘what happens next’ still hangs in the balance. The understanding is that the Courts and Judiciary are largely closed down over August, so having not received results thus far it is quite likely that we might not hear anything - [Supreme Effort Underway for Badgers](https://thebadgercrowd.org/supreme-effort-underway-for-badgers) - After careful discussion with the legal team, and the appointment of Richard Drabble QC as leading counsel (https://www.landmarkchambers.co.uk/people/richard-drabble-qc/), we are pleased to learn that Tom Langton has lodged a petition with the Supreme Court (Case Ref UKSC 2019/0205). This seeks permission to challenge the refusal by the Court of Appeal to overturn judgements made by - [Supreme Court permission application on challenge to the introduction of Supplementary Badger Culling has been refused](https://thebadgercrowd.org/supreme-court-permission-application-refused-on-challenge-to-the-introduction-of-supplementary-badger-culling) - The last ten days in the fight to protect badgers from culling in England have been tumultuous. We have the hugely disappointing news that the Supreme Court will not examine the 2018 rulings by Judge Cranston and those of the Appeal court. In 2019, the Court of Appeal had previously upheld Judge Cranston’s 2018 ruling - [What have we learnt from the Supreme Court’s refusal of permission to revisit Judge Cranston’s High Court ruling in 2018?](https://thebadgercrowd.org/what-have-we-learnt-from-the-supreme-courts-refusal-of-permission-to-revisit-judge-cranstons-high-court-ruling-in-2018) - On 9th June 2020 the Supreme Court turned down a permission request to look again at the long term killing of English badgers by government subsidised cull companies. The application related to a ruling in 2018 on the lawfulness of the 2017 government policy to carry out ‘supplementary’ badger culling (SBC). This is the maintaining - [Wild Justice Joins Badger Cull Legal Fight](https://thebadgercrowd.org/wild-justice-joins-badger-cull-legal-fight) - It is excellent and very welcome news that the formidable force of Wild Justice is today announcing a legal challenge to welfare aspects of the highly controversial English badger culls. The challenge against Natural England and Defra is that the badger cull does not meet acceptable animal welfare standards. Despite the long term failure of - [Supplementary Badger Culling (SBC). Adapting and learning is impossible. It’s official.](https://thebadgercrowd.org/supplementary-badger-culling-sbc-adapting-and-learning-is-impossible-its-official) - Last summer, following the spike of bTB in the first Gloucestershire pilot cull area, a pre-action letter was commented on by the governments chief scientific adviser, Ian L. Boyd. His June note was sent shortly before his retirement and it offers a bit more insight. The response related to how much information is needed before - [Badgers and bovine TB in 2020. Time for Change](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badgers-and-bovine-tb-in-2020-time-for-change) - With the turning of the year, Badger Crowd takes stock and looks to 2020. On the face of it, the outcome of the general election has grim implications for badgers; the likely outcome is a continuation of the failing English bTB policy. This brings an eighth year of increasing misery to farmers, the public and - [The Badger Cull Habitat Regulations Assessments Legal  Challenges](https://thebadgercrowd.org/the-badger-cull-habitat-regulations-assessments-legal-challenges) - Overview of why the challenges are not being pursued to the Supreme Court The badger culls are not just hugely controversial because of the large question marks over the validity of the science used by Government to justify them. Concern has also mounted over their potential impacts upon protected species and nature reserves. Complaints to - [Badger Crowd's thoughts on Michael Gove’s letter to Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-crowds-thoughts-on-michael-goves-letter-to-sir-geoffrey-clinton-brown-mp) - Michael Gove's recent letter to Geoffrey Clifton-Brown here, resulted in the Sunday Telegraph story here. We've put together some thoughts on the contents of this letter. Mr Gove’s letter unfortunately mischaracterises a part of the case brought on behalf of the Badger Crowd against Natural England in respect of the badger cull, and it falls - [No Safety Yet for Battered Badgers](https://thebadgercrowd.org/920-2) - Court rules Protection of Badgers Act (1992) may be used for bTB disease control ‘experimentation’. ‘Academic’ arguments let Natural England ‘off the hook’ on designated nature site safeguards despite admissions of errors in the original process of granting licences to cull badgers. C1/2018/2332 The Queen on the application of Langton -v- The Secretary of State - [BADGERS BACK IN COURT](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badgers-back-in-court) - C1/2018/2332 The Queen on the application of Langton -v- The Secretary of State for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs & Anr. Appeal of Claimant from the order of Sir Ross Cranston, dated 15th August 2018. Before THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND & WALES and LORD JUSTICE SINGH and LADY JUSTICE NICOLA DAVIES Tuesday, - [Badger Culling - just 5 days to Court of Appeal Hearing](https://thebadgercrowd.org/badger-culling-is-the-writing-is-on-the-wall) - Next Tuesday July 2nd at last sees aspects of Supplementary Badger Culling and Habitat Regulations Assessment of badger culling under review by the Court of Appeal, nearly a year since the cases were first heard in the High Court. We are hopeful that further scrutiny will finally show the full merits of our arguments. This - [Update on fundraising & supplementary culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/news-update) - The good news is that there has been another generous donation to the crowd fund which takes it to nearly 50% of the target. When the figure needed to pay for the Appeals and to progress new challenges was calculated, it seemed as if it was an impossible funding goal. But now the amount raised - [Supplementary culling licences - update](https://thebadgercrowd.org/supplementary-culling-licences-update) - Hours after receiving this letter from Natural England, comes a letter from Defra saying that the supplementary culling licences have been authorised in Gloucestershire and Somerset. So it appears that the challenge to the supplementary culling licences was not premature after all? What is going on at Natural England? Natural England's new authorisations allow - [Supplentary culling licences](https://thebadgercrowd.org/supplentary-culling-licenses) - Yesterday the claimants legal team received an email from Natural England’s solicitor in response to the pre-action letter. The letter says that Natural England have not yet made a decision on whether to re-authorise the supplementary badger cull licences for Areas 1 and 2 (Gloucs and Somerset) in 2019. Presumably the same applies to Area - [Press Release](https://thebadgercrowd.org/press-release) - A new pre-action letter has been sent to Defra and Natural England over 'supplementary' badger culling Key Points A pre-action protocol letter has been sent to the S/S for Food, Environment & Rural Affairs and Natural England over the governments refusal to stop supplementary badger culling. ‘Confirmed’ bovine TB cattle herd breakdowns have risen in - [Another generous donation....](https://thebadgercrowd.org/another-generous-donation) - The Badger Crowd had a major fundraising boost this morning with a generous £5000 donation from a past donor. Now with permission to appeal aspects of last year’s cases, and Court dates of 2/3 July, we have a vital (and possibly last) opportunity to oppose the Secretary of State’s approval of Supplementary Badger Culling and - [What we've been doing......](https://thebadgercrowd.org/the-upcoming-appeals) - Last year we brought a High Court Judicial Review claim, that to keep culling badgers after a four-year cull was an unlawful, unproven approach to bTB control. In addition, we claimed that safeguards to nature reserves from ecological damage following badger removal were inadequate. Defra and Natural England continue badger culling in England on an - [Short piece in April edition of British Wildlife](https://thebadgercrowd.org/short-piece-in-may-edition-of-british-wildlife) - This short piece picks up on the recent approval by the Court of Appeal for our hearing to look again at (amongst other things) the alleged failure of Natural England to address the potential negative impacts of badger culling on birds within designated sites of international importance (SPA, SAC, RAMSAR). It also mentions how our - [Natural England censured by the High Court](https://thebadgercrowd.org/natural-england-censured-by-the-high-court) - The latest BBC Wildlife Magazine has a short feature on our recent gruelling court battles to seek justice for badgers and the places where they live. Natural England threw detailed legal arguments at us last autumn in a bid to try to stop crucial evidence from designated sites expert Dominic Woodfield being submitted to the - [Farmers are set ‘impossible task’ over risk to birds from badger cull](https://thebadgercrowd.org/farmers-are-set-impossible-task-over-risk-to-birds-from-badger-cull) - See our comment below. The Sunday Telegraph 12 May 2019 By Helena Horton NATURAL England has been accused of bowing to badgers’ rights campaigners after setting farmers the “impossible task” of proving the cull poses no risk to ground-nesting birds. A High Court challenge by protester Tom Langton claimed that as badger culls increase numbers - [Another magnificent contribution](https://thebadgercrowd.org/another-magnificent-contribution) - Badger Crowd is delighted to report that the fantastic trustees of Badger Trust Sussex have yet again made an extremely generous donation to the legal fighting fund. This is great news for our fundraising efforts, and further compounds our determination to continue to judicially defend the badger against bad decision making and procedure. Thanks go ## Pages - [Badger Culling bTB Science Upended](https://thebadgercrowd.org/) - The conclusion that badger culling in England can contribute to control of bovine tuberculosis in cattle herds has been turned on its head thanks to fresh ‘cold case’ statistical evaluation by an international group of independent scientists. The London based Royal Society have published analyses that show how key aspects of methodology of the Randomised - [Articles and scientific reports](https://thebadgercrowd.org/press-cuttings) - In Reverse Chronological order:Bovine tuberculosis; badgers finally in the clear, by Tom Langton, British Wildlife, November 2025. Checking the lack of effect of badger culling from 2013 on TB incidence in cattle herds. Comment on Robertson, A. (2025) preprint, critiquing Langton et al.(2022), preprint by Tom Langton, posted on Figshare, 12 November 2025. Evidence against culling healthy - [Who we are](https://thebadgercrowd.org/who-we-are) - The Badger Crowd is a grassroots support and fundraising coalition including Badger Groups and Trusts around the UK, the public and a range of charities and funds. An extended team of scientists and advisors surround this work, from microbiologists, pathologists, statisticians, population biologists, zoologists, ecologists, legal experts, lawyers, farmers and charity workers in the nature - [Donate](https://thebadgercrowd.org/donate-2) - Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Badger Crowd have supported five Judicial Review applications against aspects of badger culling policy since 2018 with multiple substantive hearings and appeals. These JR’s have forced DEFRA and Natural England to make changes safeguarding badgers and other wildlife, and forced Defra and Natural England to reveal information surrounding their - [Photo Credits](https://thebadgercrowd.org/photo-credita) - Solo badger, by Toby Houlton Badger trio, by Toby Houlton Badger boar drinking, by Toby Houlton Badger cub in a basket, by Adrian Hinchcliffe Badger sniffing bracken, by Louise Aspinall Two badger cubs in the hand, by Adrian Hinchcliffe Other photographs by one of the above! Many thanks to our generous photographers for - [Privacy Policy](https://thebadgercrowd.org/privacy-policy) - Who we are Our website address is: https://thebadgercrowd.org. What personal data we collect and why we collect it Comments We don’t currently allow comments on this site – so we don’t need to worry about this. Contact If you contact us via our email info@thebadgercrowd.org, we may keep your name and email address. We will - [Contact](https://thebadgercrowd.org/contact) - If you want to contact The Badger Crowd you can email us using the address below. Email us: info@thebadgercrowd.org ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://thebadgercrowd.org/category/uncategorized) - [Fundraising news](https://thebadgercrowd.org/category/fundraising-news) - [Explaining the legals](https://thebadgercrowd.org/category/explaining-the-legals) - [In the news](https://thebadgercrowd.org/category/in-the-news) - [update](https://thebadgercrowd.org/category/update) - [science of bTB](https://thebadgercrowd.org/category/science-of-btb) ## Tags - [badgercrowd](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/badgercrowd) - [badger](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/badger) - [fundraising](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/fundraising) - [natural england](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/natural-england) - [trophic cascade](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/trophic-cascade) - [carnivore release](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/carnivore-release) - [NFU](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/nfu) - [badger cull](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/badger-cull) - [Badger Crowd](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/badger-crowd) - [Michael Gove](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/michael-gove) - [Geoffrey Clifton-Brown](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/geoffrey-clifton-brown) - [sssi](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/sssi) - [judicial review](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/judicial-review) - [press release](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/press-release) - [supplementary badger culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/supplementary-badger-culling) - [pre-action letter](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/pre-action-letter) - [legal challenge](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/legal-challenge) - [ground-nesting birds](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/ground-nesting-birds) - [supplementary culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/supplementary-culling) - [defra](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/defra) - [supplementary badgr culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/supplementary-badgr-culling) - [habitat regulation assessments](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/habitat-regulation-assessments) - [court of appeal](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/court-of-appeal) - [Appeal Hearing](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/appeal-hearing) - [bTB](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/btb) - [badger culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/badger-culling) - [High Court Ruling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/high-court-ruling) - [supplementary badger cull](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/supplementary-badger-cull) - [supreme court](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/supreme-court) - [habitat regulations assessments](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/habitat-regulations-assessments) - [trophic cascades](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/trophic-cascades) - [carnivore release effects](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/carnivore-release-effects) - [thank you](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/thank-you) - [Godfray review](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/godfray-review) - [badger vaccination](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/badger-vaccination) - [wild justice](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/wild-justice) - [Godfray report](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/godfray-report) - [badger trust](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/badger-trust) - [uncertainty](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/uncertainty) - [modelling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/modelling) - [next steps](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/next-steps) - [crowd justice](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/crowd-justice) - [FOI](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/foi) - [bovine tb](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bovine-tb) - [diva test](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/diva-test) - [Bern convention](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bern-convention) - [supplementary cull](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/supplementary-cull) - [political decision](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/political-decision) - [consultation](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/consultation) - [crowdjustice](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/crowdjustice) - [crowdfund](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/crowdfund) - [nerc act](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/nerc-act) - [biodiversity](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/biodiversity) - [appeal](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/appeal) - [vaccination](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/vaccination) - [epi-culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/epi-culling) - [geronimo](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/geronimo) - [cattle](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/cattle) - [Langton et al.](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/langton-et-al) - [tribalism](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/tribalism) - [permission granted](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/permission-granted) - [ecological impacts](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/ecological-impacts) - [peer reviewed](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/peer-reviewed) - [bbc wildlife magazine](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bbc-wildlife-magazine) - [Langton Jones and McGill](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/langton-jones-and-mcgill) - [Middlemiss](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/middlemiss) - [Henderson](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/henderson) - [Veterinary Record](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/veterinary-record) - [Langton et al](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/langton-et-al-2) - [book review](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/book-review) - [badgers](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/badgers) - [CVO](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/cvo) - [CSA](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/csa) - [BTO](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bto) - [Caroline Lucas](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/caroline-lucas) - [Mark Jones](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/mark-jones) - [Tom Langton](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/tom-langton) - [charlie moores](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/charlie-moores) - [Dominic Woodfield](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/dominic-woodfield) - [High Court Appeal](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/high-court-appeal) - [legal appeal](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/legal-appeal) - [bovine tuberculosis](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bovine-tuberculosis) - [phage](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/phage) - [testing](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/testing) - [skin test](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/skin-test) - [blood test](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/blood-test) - [apha](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/apha) - [halifax 2022](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/halifax-2022) - [daily mail](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/daily-mail) - [george eustice](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/george-eustice) - [Tony Jupiter](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/tony-jupiter) - [RBCT](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/rbct) - [ecological effects](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/ecological-effects) - [isvee](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/isvee) - [information commission](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/information-commission) - [tribunal](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/tribunal) - [journal of zoology](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/journal-of-zoology) - [northern ireland](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/northern-ireland) - [daera](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/daera) - [ni badger group](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/ni-badger-group) - [epidemiological culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/epidemiological-culling) - [Lord Krebs](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/lord-krebs) - [House of Lords](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/house-of-lords) - [Lords debate](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/lords-debate) - [Amendment 47](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/amendment-47) - [counties](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/counties) - [cull zones](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/cull-zones) - [HRA](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/hra) - [Edge](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/edge) - [LRA](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/lra) - [british wildlife](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/british-wildlife) - [france](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/france) - [hunting](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/hunting) - [alsace](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/alsace) - [bas-rhin](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bas-rhin) - [haut-rhin](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/haut-rhin) - [Risk Pathways Analysis](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/risk-pathways-analysis) - [Disease Report Form](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/disease-report-form) - [oxfordshire](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/oxfordshire) - [reactive culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/reactive-culling) - [bbc](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bbc) - [david gregory kumar](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/david-gregory-kumar) - [wales](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/wales) - [farming today](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/farming-today) - [sociology](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/sociology) - [epi culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/epi-culling-2) - [proactive culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/proactive-culling) - [protest](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/protest) - [20 October](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/20-october) - [10 years on](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/10-years-on) - [Birch et al](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/birch-et-al) - [northern reland](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/northern-reland) - [USPCA](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/uspca) - [risk pathways](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/risk-pathways) - [badger culling badger trust](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/badger-culling-badger-trust) - [david macdonald](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/david-macdonald) - [cause and effect](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/cause-and-effect) - [cattle testing](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/cattle-testing) - [dick sibley](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/dick-sibley) - [btb partnership](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/btb-partnership) - [100% culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/100-culling) - [Birch](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/birch) - [steve barclay](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/steve-barclay) - [extended](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/extended) - [pre-action protocol](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/pre-action-protocol) - [general election](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/general-election) - [badger culls](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/badger-culls) - [scientific evidence](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/scientific-evidence) - [peter brotherton](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/peter-brotherton) - [election](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/election) - [labour](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/labour) - [green party](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/green-party) - [Starmer](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/starmer) - [ineffective](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/ineffective) - [Rishi Sunak](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/rishi-sunak) - [stephen akrill](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/stephen-akrill) - [steve reed](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/steve-reed) - [Torgerson](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/torgerson) - [Oxford](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/oxford) - [petition](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/petition) - [50000 people](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/50000-people) - [Torgerson et al](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/torgerson-et-al) - [Betty badger](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/betty-badger) - [targeted culling](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/targeted-culling) - [reanalysis](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/reanalysis) - [bovineTB](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bovinetb) - [christl donnelly](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/christl-donnelly) - [rosie woodroffe](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/rosie-woodroffe) - [cathal mills](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/cathal-mills) - [brian may](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/brian-may) - [bbc documentary](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bbc-documentary) - [truth](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/truth) - [56%](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/56) - [low risk area](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/low-risk-area) - [policy](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/policy) - [cumbria](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/cumbria) - [Mills et al](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/mills-et-al) - [gloucestershire](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/gloucestershire) - [bovine bt](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bovine-bt) - [epidemiology](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/epidemiology) - [edge area](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/edge-area) - [science](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/science) - [reactor](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/reactor) - [inconclusive](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/inconclusive) - [otf-w](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/otf-w) - [otf-s](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/otf-s) - [confirmed](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/confirmed) - [unconfirmed](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/unconfirmed) - [review](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/review) - [godfray](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/godfray) - [ian boyd](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/ian-boyd) - [science and politics](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/science-and-politics) - [charles godfray](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/charles-godfray) - [lincolnshire](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/lincolnshire) - [respiratory](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/respiratory) - [Francis](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/francis) - [Zuckerman](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/zuckerman) - [tvr](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/tvr) - [activism](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/activism) - [climate change](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/climate-change) - [pathogenesis](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/pathogenesis) - [lung lesions](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/lung-lesions) - [licences](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/licences) - [authorised](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/authorised) - [statistics](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/statistics) - [Jane Dalton](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/jane-dalton) - [The Independent](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/the-independent) - [bomshell](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bomshell) - [mark brewer](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/mark-brewer) - [Royal Society Open Science](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/royal-society-open-science) - [vet times](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/vet-times) - [perturbation hypothesis](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/perturbation-hypothesis) - [paul torgerson](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/paul-torgerson) - [cornwall](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/cornwall) - [jeremy clarkson](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/jeremy-clarkson) - [diddly squat](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/diddly-squat) - [international](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/international) - [Gamma](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/gamma) - [bpvine tb](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/bpvine-tb) - [vet record](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/vet-record) - [gamma testing](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/gamma-testing) - [Silverman](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/silverman) - [analysis](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/analysis) - [Donnelly](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/donnelly) - [westminster hall debate](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/westminster-hall-debate) - [angela eagle](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/angela-eagle) - [recurrence](https://thebadgercrowd.org/tag/recurrence)