§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimates she has made of(a) the number of badgers in Northern Ireland, (b) the highest and lowest densities per square kilometre and (c) the level of tuberculosis in those populations. [59037]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyFrom a survey carried out in 1994 there are estimated to be around 38,000 badgers in Northern Ireland.
Based on the survey the highest density recorded in one area of Northern Ireland was 15 badgers per square kilometre. Other areas had densities as low as 1 or 2 badgers per square kilometre.
Information is not available on the level of tuberculosis in these badger populations.