20,000 sign petition demanding Welsh Government reject Reform UK’s calls for badger cull
Nation.Cymru Staff
Over 20,000 people have backed a petition calling on the Welsh Government to reject Reform UK’s motion to consider a targeted badger cull to ‘manage’ bovine TB
Opposition to the prospect of badger culling in Wales has grown steadily following the passing of a Reform UK motion in the Senedd on 15 July 2026, by votes of 79 in favour to 9 against, to consider a targeted badger cull to manage bovine TB.
In response, activist and environmental campaigner Sarah Reisz launched the petition ‘We call upon the Senedd to reject any badger cull in Wales’.
Published on 21 July 2026, it has in just five days managed to achieve the 10,000 signatures required to be considered for a Senedd debate.
The petition reads: “A badger cull would be senseless, further decimate wildlife and has been shown have no effect on bovine TB. Wales should be proud of its record and not go back on what’s been achieved so far.
“To adopt a model of slaughtering wildlife which has already been shown to be ineffective would be folly and irresponsible in the extreme.
“Wales prides itself on the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and we urge the Senedd to continue to put this at the heart of TB Eradication policy and reject calls for badger culling.
“Any change in Welsh policy must be accompanied by a full public consultation.”
Protect the Wild, a UK non-profit campaigning for the protection of British wildlife, amplified calls for supporters to back the petition on Instagram.
They said, although the Senedd’s motion is not yet binding, it is a “terrifying indication” of what may happen to Wales’ badger population.
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They also highlighted that, thanks to efforts focusing on cow-to-cow transmission, Bovine TB is almost at its lowest level in two decades, with 95% of Welsh herds declared free from the disease.
Protect the Wild alleged that, as both Plaid and Reform draw from rural support, “A badger cull is less about tackling TB effectively and more about keeping NFU Cymru and farming voters happy”.
The previous Welsh Labour government first called a halt to badger culling in 2012, following research suggesting the practice was both inhumane and ineffective in controlling the spread.
However, Plaid Cymru’s 2026 manifesto stated that they would look at “implementing a new approach to managing bovine TB – one which recognises wildlife as a source of infection and enables scientifically validated control methods”.
On 9 June, First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth came under pressure in the Senedd, asked by Welsh Labour’s interim leader, Ken Skates, which method of culling he would favour, including shooting, poisoning, gassing or bludgeoning the animals.
In response, the First Minister said it was “not a serious question”, and again refused to rule out badger culling.
Mr Skates, speaking after First Minister’s questions, said: “I was appalled that the First Minister dismissed concerns raised about animal welfare today as ‘not a serious question’.
“Plaid Cymru’s approach to the outdated and cruel practice of culling badgers sets a dangerous precedent around how they will approach animal welfare.
“Which animal rights are they prepared to roll back on?
“Welsh Labour will continue to hold the government to account to ensure the progress made on a safer, kinder Wales for animals is not undone.”
Previous polling by RSPCA Cymru in May revealed overwhelming public opposition across Wales to killing badgers as a response to bovine TB.
The opinion survey revealed that only 27% of the Welsh population actively support badger culling, with just under half (46%) of those surveyed categorically against the method.
According to the data, 63% of people in Wales are either ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ uncomfortable with badger culling being conducted in Wales, using lethal methods approved by government authorities.
Meanwhile, more than two thirds (68%) are either ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ uncomfortable with the concept of public funds being used for the culling of badgers.
Notably, badger culling directly impacts the political support of almost 60% of the Welsh public, with 52% less likely to support a political party that endorses badger culling.
The polling also revealed that 98% of people in Wales consider protecting Welsh wildlife to be important to them, with more than two thirds (69%) considering it ‘very important’.
Badgers were shown to be among the most popular species of wildlife in Wales, with 73% of people stating that they are specifically concerned about them when given a variety of species to choose from.
At the time, Billie-Jade Thomas, Senior Public Affairs Manager for RSPCA Cymru, said: “Badgers are such wonderful creatures and, like all wildlife, deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. A growing body of evidence suggests that the majority of Bovine TB infection occurs between cattle and with the scientific evidence suggesting that badger culling is not an effective way to reduce the disease in cattle.
“Given the new arithmetic in the Senedd, we hope politicians are mindful of this during any future negotiations and discussions around the Welsh Government’s future direction. The new administration must always tackle bTB in a way which does not needlessly pose a threat to one of our most distinctive, well-loved yet misunderstood species of wildlife.”
The Senedd petition, We call upon the Senedd to reject any badger cull in Wales, is available here.
More information about badgers and the law is available here.
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Everyone who is sensible should just oppose this cull simply on the principle that deform have asked for it.
Plaid Cymru will pay a price in next May’s local elections for backing Reform over this.
In Cathays but not Caerfyrddin.
And that is the challenge for Plaid Cymru: can it hold onto the support it won beyond its heartland?
Many young urban voters chose Plaid Cymru in May believing it was a progressive party. They will not be impressed by voting for a Reform motion to kill badgers.
The claim by Billie-Jade Thomas of RSPCA that “majority of Bovine TB infection occurs between cattle and with the scientific evidence suggesting that badger culling is not an effective way to reduce the disease in cattle” is simply not true. We see this in the failed ‘Badger Vaccination Project’ in Wales which quotes the scientific study of Tonder et al 2021 which found when cattle to cattle transmission is suppressed badgers become the key vector in transmission. https://assets.britishecologicalsociety.org/2024/11/18140625/BES_WPG_Policy-Brief_-bTB-badger_ENG.pdf Not only that, whilst it is true that blanket culling does not work well due to repopulation by infected badgers a targeted… Read more »
There have been a number of studies into whether badgers spread TB to cattle and the famous eradication of badgers by Defra in Gloucestershire. Removing all badgers in the area did not stop outbreaks of TB in cattle showing that it could not have been badgers causing it. Also 1) other species are known to carry and spread TB; 2) bio-security on farms is known to be poor at best and appalling at worst; 3) legal and illegal cattle movements; 4) bovine TB testing which is known to be far from fit for purpose.
Just a few corrections to your comment. There are no plans for and there has never been an attempt to ‘erraidate’ badgers from a specific area. A cull is where the density of a given population is reduced in that way reducing intra and inter species transmission. Whilst other wild species can be infected with bTB it is the badger which is the main vector. Cattle graze pastures and poo on it. Badgers actively seek out and dig through cow pats for food. Beetles and worms. their diet. Bio-security measures on farms vary because there a bTB hotspots and the… Read more »
What is it with reform and their rather unhealthy obsession with killing things?
Between wanting to remove online safety laws, making speed limits higher, promoting groups of people in funny outfits tearing live foxes apart and now pointlessly slaughtering badgers they’re not exactly screaming wellbeing and safety.