NATIONAL THREAT TO UK BADGERS 

On the 7th October 2002, Animal Welfare Minister Elliot Morley issued the first UK licence allowing badgers to be killed in a residential area. The licence permitted the killing of up to 15 badgers in an urban area of Saltdean, East Sussex.

(c) Steve Jackson

Animal lovers and local residents together mounted a demonstration outside the residents' houses 24hrs a day. Animal Welfare Minister, Elliot Morley, who issued the licence to kill, suspended the licence on the 14th October after pressure from a solicitor working on behalf of the badger groups and Care For The Wild International. Further pressure was exerted by the demonstration and from Sussex Police and local MP Des Turner.

Unfortunately the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) contractors killed two badgers before anyone knew the traps had been placed. 

The licence was issued for the killing of badgers in a urban area because it was claimed they were causing damage to residential property. However it is disputed that the damage is as serious as claimed and that the gable end of one of the properties is unlikely to fall down this winter.

A spokesperson for the National Federation of Badger Groups (NFBG) stated, "We understand that Defra, who issued a licence permitting the trapping and shooting of the badgers, will now look again at alternatives, and that the traps have now been removed.

"This is excellent news, although sadly it comes too late for the two badgers which have already been killed. We are also concerned that the killings may ultimately resume if Defra cannot be persuaded that a suitable alternative exists."

"They (Defra) have stated that the damage caused by the badgers is serious and that this is an extreme case, but have failed to produce any reports by chartered surveyors or structural engineers. They have claimed that bovine TB is endemic in the local badger population, ruling out the possibility of translocation. However they have not provided any evidence to support this claim or explained how these urban badgers might have contracted the disease. 

"They (Defra) have also stated that an exclusion of the badgers will not work as it has been tried before, but they have not provided information on the previous attempt made 14 years ago. This information might enable us to determine why that attempt failed."

The Saltdean Badger Coalition (SBC) has been formed to find a peaceful solution to the Saltdean badger issue, which is fair to both the residents and the badgers. The group comprises: Care for the Wild International, Mid Sussex Badger Group, National Federation of Badger Groups, Saltdean Residents Association and Southdowns Badger Group. 

The Coalition has unearthed a document by the same Defra official who has been advising Minister Elliot Morley.

In the document, the official describes how badger licences should be assessed, implemented and monitored. 

"It's incredible," says Dr Elaine King, Chief Executive of the NFBG. "He spelt out what should be done, but he has failed to do it."

• What Defra says: 'If a problem exists, the damage and risks have to be quantified.'

• The Coalition says: "Defra decided to cull the badgers without a structural survey of the damage or the risks."
  
  

• What Defra says: 'The available options need to be discussed ... These must, of course, be practicable, legal and appropriate to the situation.'

• The Coalition says: "Defra only proposed only one solution to the residents – culling – rather than a range of options."
  
  

• What Defra says: 'Surveys may have to be undertaken before badgers are evicted or deterred ... the status of not only the sett causing the problem, but also setts around it, is an important consideration.'

• The Coalition says: "Defra told us that 'A detailed survey of the setts in the area would not be relevant to the determination of this case.' It has also refused to reveal details of 12 other local sett closures, which we believe may have led to increased badger activity around the sett in question."
  
  

• What Defra says: 'Local information is required, and badger groups play a key role in this respect.'

• The Coalition says: "Defra was advised to consult the local badger group on 11 July by English Nature. Instead, Defra contacted the National Federation of Badger Groups and asked it not to raise the issue locally 'to avoid adverse publicity'. The NFBG, which exists specifically to represent more than 80 badger groups, refused. Defra now claims it did consult the local group – through the NFBG!"

Dr King added, "Defra made its decision with little of the essential information to hand. It doesn't even know how many badgers are living in the sett. In separate statements, it has said there are '6 to 8' and '8 to 10' badgers, while the licence says 15 badgers. It's a complete shambles."

UPDATE JULY 2003