Badgers: press release
While the courts have recently ruled in favour of One Voice and its partners in several cases concerning the protection of badgers, the Ministry for Ecological Transition has decided to appeal to the Council of State in an attempt to retain the additional periods for underground hunting. This is a scandalous decision, symbolic of a government that remains ready to defend the interests of the hunting industry rather than wildlife.
Despite numerous legal victories secured by One Voice in conjunction with other organisations (notably AVES and ASPAS), the Ministry for Ecological Transition has just appealed to the Council of State in an attempt to retain the additional periods for underground badger hunting.
In other words: allowing badgers to be hunted down, dug out with dogs and then killed at a time when their young are still dependent on their mothers.
And yet, in its ruling of 24 February 2026, the Administrative Court of Appeal of Bordeaux had reiterated this fundamental principle: it is forbidden to kill young mammals. It had also confirmed that a ‘young’ animal is defined as one that is not yet able to fend for itself and remains dependent on its mother, as is the case with young badgers who are not yet independent at the time of these additional hunting periods.
Even in recent weeks, the courts have ruled in our favour on several occasions:
*in Calvados, with the cancellation of an order authorising an additional period of underground hunting in 2024;
*in Eure, with the cancellation of hunts at the authorities’ initiative and a new additional period of underground hunting in 2025;
*in Tarn-et-Garonne, where the administrative court also overturned an order authorising this practice in 2022.
Tomorrow, once again, we will be appearing before the judge in urgent proceedings to defend badgers in the Marne region.
And if the appeal is allowed by the Council of State, we will also be standing up to the Ministry, as it persists in defending the interests of hunters in defiance of scientific knowledge and environmental law.
One Voice expresses its deepest indignation at this relentless persecution.
“Once again, we must take the matter to court to ensure the law is upheld in the face of the subservience of the Ministry of Ecology towards hunters and farmers…”, protests Muriel Arnal, president of One Voice. “But we will continue our fight for badgers, who have every right to be in our countryside!”
Meanwhile, several public consultations regarding badger hunting are currently underway, notably in the Marne, Ille-et-Vilaine, Cher, Loire, Finistère, Pas-de-Calais, Eure-et-Loir, Allier, Sarthe and Morbihan regions.
One Voice calls on everyone who cares about wildlife conservation to take part in these consultations to reject this practice of unacceptable cruelty.
Badgers: press release
The Ministry for Ecological Transition is once again siding with the hunters!