ifaw statement on the Government’s decision to phase out badger culling

David Cowdrey, Head of Policy & Campaigns at IFAW, said: “We welcome the news that the Government will finally bring the cruel and ineffective practice of badger culling to an end.

“Over recent years, tens of thousands of badgers have been unnecessarily killed as a method to stop the spread of Bovine TB. However, research has continually pointed to badger vaccination as a viable alternative to culling. For years, the badger cull policy has not only cost the lives of one of Britain’s best-loved species but has not provided farmers with an effective disease control strategy.

“We congratulate the Government on taking this important step forward to protect British wildlife, and everyone that has campaigned for so long to stop the needless killing of this iconic animal.”