Government response

Myth bust: The Times claims the numbers of badgers to be culled were reduced due to protestor sabotage

Protester activity has had no impact on the data used to make these population estimates.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 4 March 2013

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The myth - The Times reports today (Monday 4 March) that the number of badgers to be culled in the pilot areas this summer has been reduced following sabotage of research by protestors.

The truth - The new badger population estimates are based on a wider range of evidence including new genetic data from hair trapping to create a more accurate and robust estimate of the true badger population. Protester activity has had no impact on the data used to make these population estimates.

Published 4 March 2013