Wednesday, March 6 2013

Badger cull

Defra can now be more certain in setting targets to remove the 70 per cent of the population required for disease control benefits

Sir, Protester activity has had no impact in setting the new numbers of badgers to be culled in the two pilot areas (report, Mar 4). New target numbers for the cull have been set based on improved estimates of the badger population in west Somerset and west Gloucestershire. In addition to sett survey data, we have also been able to add genetic data from hair trapping to create a more accurate and robust population estimate. The activity of protesters has not changed these new estimates. We can now be more certain in setting targets to remove the 70 per cent of the population required for disease control benefits. We are continually improving methods for estimating badger populations, and it was right that estimates were revised when new information became available.

Professor Ian Boyd Chief Scientific Adviser, Defra