The Fight Against the Badger Cull Continues

Challenging DEFRA’s Rigged Review and New Animation

Last week, I traveled to Oxford on behalf of Protect the Wild to hand in our petition demanding that key Oxford academics step down from DEFRA’s so-called “independent” review into whether the badger cull has been effective. And, as you might have guessed, they weren’t exactly thrilled to see us.

This review, commissioned by the UK Government, is supposed to assess the latest science on bovine TB (bTB) control. But from the outset, it has been anything but independent. Instead of assembling a genuinely neutral panel, DEFRA has once again appointed individuals with long-standing pro-culling views, undermining public trust in science-based policymaking.

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A Review Stacked in Favour of Culling

At the heart of this biased review is Professor Charles Godfray, who has been reappointed despite his history of supporting the badger cull. His previous role in the 2018 bTB review directly contributed to the continuation of mass badger killing, a policy that has failed to deliver any meaningful reductions in bTB rates. With this track record, how can anyone expect him to suddenly turn around and acknowledge that he got it wrong?

And it doesn’t stop there. The panel also includes Oxford academics who have historically supported badger culling, including statistician Bernard Silverman, who is being asked to review research produced by his own university. This is not independent scrutiny—it’s a blatant conflict of interest.

Recognising the farce of this review, we launched a petition demanding that key figures like Godfray step down. Over 6,500 of you signed it, and last Friday, we teamed up with Oxfordshire Badger Group to deliver the petition in person.

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Delivering the Petition in Oxford

On the day, we visited three key buildings associated with members of the review panel to ensure the petition reached the right people. While we handed it in at each location, whether it actually made its way to the intended recipients remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure—Professor Godfray and his colleagues would have felt our presence that day.

Because this entire process is a disgrace. The badger cull itself is bad enough, but now, even a government-commissioned review into its effectiveness has been manipulated to justify continued killing. How can we expect a panel stacked with pro-cull individuals to admit they got it wrong?

This isn’t about science—it’s about protecting political and institutional reputations at the expense of badgers.

Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash

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We Are Not Alone in Calling This Out

We’re not the only ones exposing this sham review. Brian May and the Save Me Trust have just submitted their own challenge, branding the review as completely compromised. They’ve presented 12 years of research proving that badger culling has failed, yet the government refuses to accept the facts.

May has called for:
🔴 An immediate end to the cull
🔴 A complete restructuring of bTB policy
🔴 An end to this continuous cover-up of failure

The reality is simple: nobody wants to admit they got it wrong. Not the government, not the scientists involved, and certainly not the farming lobbyists who have spent years pushing for mass badger killing. They are all complicit in ensuring badgers take the blame—right up until their last breath.

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The Fight to End the Cull Continues

But we are not giving up. The fight to end this senseless slaughter rages on, and as long as badgers are being killed, we will continue to push back.

Our government petition to end the badger cull is gaining momentum, and we are nearing our next milestone of 70,000 signatures. If you haven’t already, please sign the petition and write to your MP. Demand to know why this government is doubling down on failure instead of embracing real solutions.

The badger cull must end. And we won’t stop until it does.

🔗 Sign the petition here:

We also released our new animation narrated by Chris Packham earlier today calling on the Government to immediately end the Badger cull and exposing how they have betrayed this iconic British species.

📺 Watch the animation here:

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ADOPT A BADGER AND SUPPORT US FURTHER

At Protect the Wild we are campaigning against badger persecution and the ongoing badger cull.

By adopting a badger with Protect the Wild you will help fund our efforts to protect badgers and help expose wildlife crimes committed against wild badger populations.

As an adopter, not only will you be helping fund vital work, but you will also receive an exclusive Protect the Wild adoption pack including cuddly toy, glossy photo, and an information fact sheet.