Britain’s badger cull is back – despite all the evidence against it | Patrick Barkham

The government's chaotic, secretive killing plan is far more costly, and far less efficient, than simply vaccinating these animals

In New Zealand, deerstalkers have issued a grovelling apology after four critically endangered takahA were shot dead during a government cull of pukeko, a common and superficially similar-looking bird. In Australia Queensland's government has been criticised for authorising the killing of 621 sharks - a futile gesture about being seen to be doing something after shark attacks on surfers.

These culls illustrate three uncomfortable truths about the organised killing of wildlife for a specific purpose: mistakes happen; there are always unintended consequences; and culls are hugely unpopular.

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