First badger vaccinations take place in Derbyshire

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has begun vaccinating badgers in the county, with the first vaccinations taking place at the Trust’s Hartington Meadows Nature Reserve.
Debbie BaileyDebbie Bailey
Debbie Bailey

The trust began fundraising last year for the programme, reaching its £50,000 target earlier this year. Vaccinations are being used as an alternative to culling as a solution to the problem of bovine tuberculosis (TB).

Debbie Bailey of the High Peak Badger Group, who has been leading the volunteers, said: “We were particularly pleased that we have been able to vaccinate virtually all the badger cubs on the Hartington Meadows nature reserve which is very important given the lifespan of a badger and the benefits of long term immunity within the social groups we have now vaccinated.

Derbyshire is leading the way through working in partnership with many organisations, and is a great model for other counties to follow.”

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