bbc.co.uk navigation

12 September 2012 Last updated at 11:30

Badger cull to go ahead in Gloucester and Somerset

Badger

A charity has lost its court battle to stop plans to kill thousands of badgers in England.

The Badger Trust had tried to stop the cull. A trial cull will now go ahead in parts of Gloucestershire and Somerset.

They believe that killing the animals wouldn't stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB), a deadly disease that can pass to cows from badgers.

But a judge has ruled that the government is right to go ahead with the cull.

The government thinks that bovine TB is currently costing farmers in the UK around £100m per year, and action is urgently needed.

But scientific studies have shown that culling badgers may not prevent the spread of the disease; and could even make it worse in some areas.

More on This Story

  • Watch NewsroundWatch Newsround

    Watch the latest update from Newsround, CBBC's news programme for children.

BBC © 2013 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.