“One of the problems associated with culling is that it changes the behaviour of the remaining badgers. With members of their own and neighbouring groups gone, badgers tend to travel further, increasing their contact with cattle both inside and outside the culling area. This undermines the benefits of culling, to such an extent that it is not financially viable,” says Dr Rosie Woodroffe, Senior Research Fellow, ZSL.

Badger culling provides no long lasting benefit for reducing cattle TB