208886 - Bovine Tuberculosis: South West (Answered)

Mrs Anne Main
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of badgers in Somerset and Gloucester for the second year of the culls; and when those estimates were made.

George Eustice

Estimating wildlife populations is uncertain but the latest estimates have been set using the best available evidence, including information gathered on the ground by experts and signed off by Defra’s Chief Scientist. A minimum of 316 culled badgers in Somerset and 615 in Gloucestershire has been set for this year’s culls. Further information is available here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/347536/badger-cull-setting-min-max-numbers-2014.pdf.

These estimates were published on 26 August 2014.