Breaking news from the Badger Trust
- A staggering 10,769 additional badgers lost their lives due to improperly issued licences in the 2024 supplementary culls.
- Silence from Natural England on 2025 supplementary badger culling licences effective from June 1st.
On June 1st, just as the British Summer begins, thousands of Badgers and their cubs are again at risk of being shot in cull zones across England.
Last year, just as they were issued, Badger Trust and Wild Justice uncovered evidence that the 2024 Supplementary Badger cull licences were granted to placate farmers, build industry ‘confidence’ in government policy and maintain relationships with DEFRA.
It’s unacceptable to kill any wild animal, let alone a protected species like the Badger, just to keep any ‘commercial’ interest happy.
“Setting aside all else, this fails the test of good government. It exemplifies ‘regulatory capture’, when a government that is supposed to serve the public interest, including the health of the natural environment, is instead influenced and controlled by the commercial interests it is meant to regulate. That alone should be a source of shame.” Rosie Wood, Badger Trust Chair.
Furthermore, our case clearly demonstrates that Natural England lacks the legal authority to cull badgers for political reasons, even in response to concerns from farmers.
Badger Trust and Wild Justice’s court case is scheduled to take place later this year to address this and other failings.
“This is all about political damage control at the expense of a protected species. There is compelling evidence that 2024 supplementary cull licenses were granted not on the basis of science, but to appease farming interests and maintain cosy relationships between DEFRA and the farming industry. This isn’t just a policy failure, it’s a moral one. These are protected animals, and they deserve more than silence from a government that promised change”. Bob Elliot, CEO, Wild Justice.
Since the Labour government made its pledge to end these ‘ineffective badger culls,’ it has remained silent about when and sometimes even if they plan to end the ineffective badger culls.
Today, we begin sharing crucial information, revealing that in the 2024 supplementary culls, a staggering 10,769 additional badgers lost their lives due to improperly issued licences.
By now, we would have had a carefully crafted statement from the Chief Vet touting the supposed ‘success’ of culls and disclosing the number of Badgers killed during the culls in 2024. There has been complete radio silence. Are they busy working on how to explain it, perhaps?
The ‘success’ criteria that Natural England refers to are not what the public would imagine. The criteria for intensive culling operations, which are routinely declared a ‘success,’ are simply:
- No one gets shot.
- Lots of badgers get shot.
- Accuracy of shooting—this has nothing to do with bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle, but there is a lot for the new ministers to address in DEFRA, including this issue. This could be the reason for the delay.
Why the silence on 2025 Supplementary Cull Licences?
There are other delays, too. Typically, in early May, Natural England announces the latest badger culling licences issued for supplementary cull areas, effective from June 1st. However, as of May 30, 2025, there has been no announcement—only more silence.
DEFRA and Natural England have been shockingly exposed by revelations from Badger Trust and Wild Justice.
Badger groups throughout England will be vigilant this Sunday, monitoring their local setts. They face uncertainty: Will the paid shooters arrive? Will the police intervene? Or will nothing happen at all?
The Labour government is failing to protect a protected species, showing a cavalier disregard for the law and the facts.
Natural England, under Labour, is not safeguarding badgers. Instead, they seem more concerned about maintaining their relationships with farmers.
The public must be vigilant. In the absence of notifications regarding licenced culls, shooting badgers may constitute illegal persecution and could be considered a crime.
Secretary of State Steve Reed, it’s time for the Labour Party to take responsibility and address the chaotic management within your department.
The phrase, “It’s how government works,” is not an acceptable excuse—your party is in power now.
The time for transparency is now, Secretary of State. Stop defending the failures of your predecessors.
We will publish further details from the case on a weekly basis, including some evidence that is now publicly available.
