Badger culling is set to end from 2022, the Government signalled today in a victory for campaigners. Some 102,188 of the creatures have been culled since 2013, and up to 64,657 more were due to be slaughtered last autumn.
Insiders believe figures outlining how many were culled in 2020 could be published in the coming days – and expect them to show a toll of at least 40,000.
Supporters believe killing badgers helps curb bovine tuberculosis in cows, with badgers blamed for carrying the disease around the countryside, infecting cattle.
But opponents believe the shooting programme is ineffective. In a written parliamentary statement, Environment Secretary George Eustice today fuelled hopes the end of the cull was near.
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