Badger Cruelty Campaign

 Badger Project in West Wales

Naturewatch's involvement started with badgers in 1996 when members of a Welsh badger group contacted the organisation. Naturewatch paid for surveillance equipment that enabled the badger group to investigate suspected badger diggers with the aim of catching them red-handed at their evil work. These men are well aware of the potential of being followed which means a good measure of luck is needed to catch them on a badger sett. Naturewatch has continued to fund surveillance activity for the group since then.

The devastation caused at a dug sett.
 

Although the Badgers Act 1992 offers protection on paper, it does very little to stop the hard core of highly organised thugs who delight in persecuting badgers in West Wales where the so-called 'sport' is rife.It is a notoriously difficult and very time-consuming operation, often without success for numerous reasons.Equally difficult is achieving a successful prosecution. Unfortunately, many police forces do not view badger cruelty as important which means a lack of co-operation exists in many areas.

A typical sight: A mauled badger at the scene of a crime
 

During discussions between Dyfed-Powys Police, Nick Ainger MP, Badger Groups, RSPCA and Naturewatch to encourage a proactive approach to tackling wildlife crime, in particular badger diggin and baiting, it became clear that this issue was viewed as low priority by many forces. Following various consultations, it was felt that the overriding reason for this apparent 'laid back' approach was due to the crimes not being 'notifiable offences'. This means the badger crime is not included in official crime statistics issued by the Home Office.

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