Badger Vaccination

This portfolio was photographed for BBC Wildlife Magazine for publication in the Autumn 2011 issue. The images are available for use as part of my collections at Nature Picture Library and NHPA.

The story was shot in Gloucestershire in the UK. It details the Badger Vaccine Deployment Project being undertaken by Fera as a trial to understand the viability of vaccinating badgers to protect cattle from bTB. The project involves trapping and vaccinating badgers and I spent three days with Fera field workers and BBC Wildlife Magazine Environment Editor James Fair documenting the process.

Our time in Gloucestershire also coincided with a Cage Trapping and Vaccination of Badgers Training Course. One of the primary aims of the project is to provide training for those who may wish to apply for a license to vaccinate badgers. The course was attended by private contractors as well as representatives from the Badger Trust, Wildlife Trusts and NFU. The spectrum of attendees shows just how seriously all stakeholders in the badger cull/bovine tuberculosis debate are considering vaccination as a measurea to address the TB issue.