We recognise that bovine TB is a complex and costly disease that causes substantial hardship to the farming community and that there is a need to find the right mechanisms to control it. However, this plan will see the needless killing of thousands of healthy badgers when a more ethical alternative exists.

Our clear preference has always been that badger vaccination should be the main approach adopted to control bovine TB in the badger population. However, if wildlife intervention was to be part of the strategy, ‘Test–Vaccinate–Remove’ (TVR) would have provided a more ethical alternative, (where only TB positive badgers are euthanized).

Ken Brundle, Chairman of Ulster Wildlife, said: “To say we are shocked and disappointed is an understatement. 4 out of 5 badgers culled under these plans will be healthy bovine TB-free animals and in our view, that is completely unacceptable. This proposal is not proportionate in addressing the relatively low level of risk associated with the transmission of this disease by badgers.  Badgers are a protected, native species and yet under these proposals, thousands of healthy animals face being shot.”

4 out of 5 badgers culled under these plans will be healthy bovine TB-free animals and in our view, that is completely unacceptable.

We have robustly engaged with the Minister and his department at every step and opportunity in this consultation process and more than 10,000 people have signed a petition against a proposed badger cull in Northern Ireland. This is the worst outcome for nature when Northern Ireland could have led the way with a more proportionate and ethical plan to control bovine TB using a TVR approach.

Culling has been a very contentious policy in England with over 140,000 badgers being shot in recent years and the decision has been taken there to move to badger vaccination.  This plan will result in the badger population in Northern Ireland being put in decline through human intervention at a time when nature is in crisis.

Badgers are a protected, native species and yet under these proposals, thousands of healthy animals face being shot

We will continue to scrutinise any next steps from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and work with our partners in the conservation sector to see what actions can be taken to protect badgers in Northern Ireland.

Read more about our position on badgers and bovine TB, and our proposed alternatives to a cull