Badger Vaccination Project
Badger by Bertie Gregory/2020Vision
BBOWT, along with other Wildlife Trusts, has demonstrated that vaccinating badgers is a viable alternative to culling in the battle against bovine TB
In 2014 BBOWT set up a Mammal Project to vaccinate badgers on key nature reserves in order to protect our own and graziers’ cattle from bovine TB and to promote the use of vaccination rather than culling badgers.
Four BBOWT staff trained with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to be able to carry out badger vaccinations in a safe and humane way.
The scheme was subsequently extended and we are currently vaccinating on key nature reserves in west Oxfordshire, and in West Berkshire where the vaccination project includes nature reserves, local authority land and private farmland.
Read more about BBOWT's stance and work on badgers and bovine TB
Why we are vaccinating badgers against bovine TB
The Wildlife Trusts believe an evidence-based and scientifically reliable approach must be developed to counteract the risk posed to cattle by bovine TB. The government has seen no definitive benefits from three years of industry-led culling of badgers in England.
There is robust, scientific evidence to prove that badger vaccination reduces the transmission of bovine TB in badgers. BBOWT would like to see more strategic and widespread badger vaccination schemes along with a focus on the significantly larger problem of cattle to cattle transmission bovine TB.
Latest news
Monday 7 September 2020: Despite the Government’s commitment in March 2020 to phase out badger culling across England in favour of vaccination, they announced in September 2020 that culling will be licenced for the first time in several counties, including Oxfordshire. The Trust is saddened and deeply concerned at the news. Read more here.
Badger (Meles meles), walking across grass at night, Banbury, Oxfordshire, October, 2011 - Richard Steel/2020VISION
Ask your MP to stop the badger cull
You can help by writing to your MP and asking them to urge the Government not to press ahead with the widespread destruction of this iconic protected species.
The history of BBOWT's badger vaccination project
2012: BBOWT starts its first vaccination programme at Chimney Meadows. At this point there are no dedicated BBOWT staff for the vaccination project and staff do not have appropriate qualifications, so the Oxfordshire Mammal Group is commissioned to carry out the vaccinations for the first two years.
April 2014: BBOWT sets up a Mammal Project to vaccinate badgers on BBOWT reserves in west Oxfordshire. Four members of BBOWT staff train with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to be able to carry out badger vaccinations in a safe and humane way.
2015: BBOWT establishes a new vaccination scheme covering 15km2 of nature reserves, local authority land and private farmland in West Berkshire. The project is supported by DEFRA under the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme.
2016: A shortage of vaccine results in the suspension of all badger vaccination programmes during 2016.
2017: BBOWT successfully imports an alternative vaccine to use and vaccinations resume.
February 2018: BBOWT receives £66,000 from DEFRA to continue and expand our vaccination scheme in West Berkshire over the next four years under the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme 2 (BEVS 2). BBOWT is also committed to continuing to fund and implement vaccinations on our key nature reserves in Oxfordshire.
Government U-turn on promises to end badger culling
Largest ever cull authorised this autumn, bringing the total shot to 35% of UK’s badger population.
Oxfordshire badgers at threat from culling
Badger culling is set to begin in Oxfordshire next month resulting in the death of thousands of healthy badgers
Bovine TB: focus on cattle, not badgers, say experts.
A review of the government’s 25 Year Bovine TB (bTB) Strategy, led by Professor Sir Charles Godfray, has been published today. The…
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