In collaboration with the University of Nottingham, APHA is currently conducting a research project to detect the presence and location of TB infection in badgers in Southern Edge Area (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire and East Sussex).
The project started on 6 April 2021 and is ongoing until they reach 100 viable carcasses per county. Volunteers can help locate and collect badger carcasses which are then collected by a specialist courier and taken to the University of Nottingham. The carcasses will then be tested and if the collector would like to be notified, they could also receive the TB test result.
The carcasses are not frozen, and APHA offers a contribution of £25 towards any personal expenses associated with collection of badger carcasses for the study.
August update
From April 2021–August 2022, 436 carcasses have been submitted with 350 undergoing post-mortem examinations. TB test results are continuing to be confirmed, with collectors being informed and can be viewed on the newsletter map.
You can subscribe to APHA's monthly newsletter for regular updates by emailing [email protected].
Please note the study has reached the target number of collections in East Sussex and Oxfordshire. Please do not collect any further carcasses in these areas as they will no longer be accepted.
Help still needed
The study still requires greater numbers of submissions in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, and Hampshire. If you can help in these areas, then please read on to find out how you can get involved.
What you can do to help
Anyone can volunteer to take part. If you would like to request a collection kit please contact APHA, e-mail: [email protected], telephone: 07798 882392.
Collection kits will also be available at your local NFU office.
Download APHA's Survey for tuberculosis (TB) in found dead badgers leaflet for more information or visit TBhub – Survey for tuberculosis (TB) in found dead badgers in the Southern Edge Area – Bovine TB.