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Introduction

I have in my possession a copy of a videotape which was filmed in the early 1980's. The original tape was acquired by an undercover reporter working for a Sunday newspaper. He passed it on to the League Against Cruel Sports, and LACS in turn made copies available to badger groups and others who wished to open people's eyes to the cruelty of badger baiting.

Warning! If you are easily upset by descriptions of cruelty to animals, please do not read on.

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The baiting session - what happened

The unfortunate badger had been placed in a long trench, one end of which had been widened. An old wooden door had been placed over this end of the trench. At the beginning of the filmed part of the baiting session, the badger was hiding in the covered part of the trench, and various terriers were being sent in after the animal. Before long, the door was lifted up and moved out of the way. Presumably this was because the baiters were not getting a very good view of the fighting, and certainly not much "action" was being captured on film.

The baiting went on and on. Dogs were taken out of the trench, and others were put in to replace them. The badger seemed more interested in curling up and protecting itself than fighting. From time to time however, it did lift its head from between its paws and try to bite back. Yet more dogs were set upon the badger, not just terriers, but larger dogs too. At one point, even an Alsation was sent in; it tried to pick the badger up by the scruff of its neck and shake it, as a terrier would do with a rat.

The badger grew tired and its attempts to fight back grew more infrequent. All the dogs were removed and the badger was left alone in the bottom of the pit. Its chest heaved as it panted from its exertions. A stick was thrown at the badger to "encourage" it. Then a stone. Then another, and another. Finally, half-bricks were thrown at the exhausted animal to goad it into action. Then the dogs were sent in again and the baiting continued.

The video lasted for about an hour, and the badger was still alive at the end of it. I do not know how much longer the torment went on after the filming stopped, nor do I know how the badger was killed. One thing I do know: the practice of badger baiting, and those who participate in it, have no place in our society.

The video lasted for about an hour, and the badger was still alive at the end of it. I do not know how much longer the torment went on after the filming stopped, nor do I know how the badger was killed. One thing I do know: the practice of badger baiting, and those who participate in it, have no place in our society.

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Images of cruelty

Pictures captured from video, photographer unknown.

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Additional picture credits

The Eurasian badger photo used at the head of this Article is © Steve Jackson. Credits for the photos used in the right-hand margin of this page for site navigation can be found on the Credits page.

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