Defra revises badger cull figures

A decision on whether to extend the badger cull in Somerset is expected later this week.

Natural England is considering an application from the culling company involved.

This morning Defra has revised its badger population estimates:

Number of badgers in each area

• 1450 in Somerset (compared to initial estimate of 2400 in September 2012)
• 2350 in Gloucestershire (compared to initial estimate of 3400 in September 2012)

With these revised figures, Defra says the minimum number of badgers needed to be culled is:

• 1020 in Somerset
• 1650 in Gloucestershire

In the six weeks of the cull, 850 badgers have been removed in Somerset.