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Written question asked by Caroline Johnson (Conservative) on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 June 2025 (named day). It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Monday, 30 June 2025 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Badgers: Conservation

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the badger population in each year since the enactment of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

Answer

Since the enactment of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, two national badger monitoring surveys have taken place. A 1994-97 survey estimate did not provide an estimate of the overall population but instead estimated there were 46,100 family groups in England and Wales. A survey of the badger population in 2011-13 estimated that there were approximately 424,000 badgers in 71,600 family groups in England and Wales.

In February 2025, the Animal and Plant Health Agency commenced the latest badger population survey which will estimate badger abundance and population recovery to illustrate the impact of widespread culling over the past decade.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
62748
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Conservation Badgers
Legislation
Protection of Badgers Act 1992
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk