On Monday 11 September, the government released a report [pdf] showing that the so-called ‘Badger Cull’ hasn’t actually worked. But at exactly the same time, it also announced a sharp increase in the cull; which could mean up to [pdf p13-14] another 33,841 being killed (more than a 200% increase on 2016).

In for the kill

The Conservative Party introduced licensed badger control (or the ‘Badger Cull’) while in coalition government in 2013. The cull is supposed to reduce badgers spreading bovine tuberculosis (bTB) to farm cattle. bTB meant that, in 2016, 29,000 cattle had to be slaughtered at a cost to farmers of £100m. But critics of the cull argue that it doesn’t actually work, and that vaccinating cattle would be more effective.

And now, as the government announced an upscaling of the number of culling areas from 10 to 21, its own report has shown that “badger control” doesn’t reduce bTB; even though it has just signed off [pdf p13-14] on a minimum of 21,981 badgers being killed, and a maximum of 33,841.

Doing it for the thrill?

The report [pdf] by the Animal and Plant Agency has monitored the number of bTB cases between 2010 and 2016 in different areas. It monitored [pdf p8] the number of cases of bTB in the areas where the cull happened, where it didn’t (‘comparison’ area), and 2km ‘buffer’ areas around each of those. These were all located in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Dorset.

And the report found [pdf p14]:

The number of cases of bTB dropped in the cull areas one year prior to it beginning.

Cases increased in the buffer areas over the three years prior to the cull.

The number of bTB cases dropped in the cull areas during it. But they also dropped in the comparison area.

Cases increased in both buffer areas during the second year of the cull, then dropped again.

Hoping we’ll understand?

The report concludes [pdf p22] that:

[There were] no statistically significant differences between the combined central areas of the intervention areas compared to comparison areas, or combined buffers of intervention areas compared to comparison areas buffers for years in isolation.

In other words, the Animal and Plant Agency said the cull didn’t make any noticeable difference to the rates of bTB, anywhere. This is in line with a report [pdf] from 2007 which said [pdf p3]:

badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain. Indeed, some policies under consideration are likely to make matters worse rather than better.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) also criticised the cull, saying that:

the results from the first two years of culling have not demonstrated conclusively that controlled shooting can be carried out effectively and humanely based on the criteria that were set for the pilots.

Feelings without emotions

As The Guardian reported, vaccination costs £82 per badger, compared to £6,800 per culled animal. But still, the government carries on regardless. And meanwhile, the cost to the public purse increases; so far, the badger cull has come with a £16.5m price tag. So it would seem that, despite all the evidence to the contrary, the government believes killing badgers is the best way to stop the spread of bTB; which encapsulates the pig-headed and cruel nature of the Tories generally.

Get Involved!

– Support Team Badger, trying to stop the cull.

– Join The Canary, so we can keep holding the powerful to account.

Featured image via Flickr