Vaccinations for bTB soar in bid to end badger culls

BADGER vaccinations have hit record highs in England as the Government steps up efforts to end culling and eradicate bovine TB.

- ATHWENNA IRONS

Vaccinations rose by 24% across the country last year, with a total of 4,110 badgers now vaccinated against the disease representing an increase of over 1,000 badgers since 2023.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says the "significant progress" is part of a major drive to increase badger vaccination and end the badger cull. It comes as the Government confirmed this week that it will not be extending the cull and retains its manifesto pledge to phase out the controversial policy before the next election.

As the number of vaccinations increase, latest Defra figures show that the number of badgers culled in England last year fell by 12% compared to 2023, and is now less than half the number of badgers killed at the peak of the policy.