A cull of up to 5,000 badgers is set to go ahead after final licence conditions were met, Environment Secretary Owen Paterson told MPs today.
The pilot culls were postponed amid fears they could not be carried out effectively in autumn last year.
But Mr Paterson said Natural England had written to two companies set to carry out the pilots in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset confirming the conditions had been met, so culling could start this year.
An area in Dorset is earmarked as a reserve area in case one pilot cannot proceed.
The culls aim to tackle the spread of tuberculosis in cattle. Mr Paterson acknowledged the strength of feeling about culling, adding: “We need to take action now before the situation deteriorates even further.”
Up to 5,000 badgers will be killed in annual culls over a six-week period for four years.
