Overlooked badger farming risk for people and wildlife

Overlooked badger trade linked to illegal wildlife trade and zoonotic disease concerns 

The “overlooked” wildlife trade of badgers in South Korea poses serious cause for concern warn scientists behind the first official study of the trade,

Published tomorrow (3 May 2023) and led by ZSL, UCL and Seoul National University, the study – researching the potential implications of badger trade in the country – reveals a lack of protection for both legally farmed animals and wild badger populations, despite the range of badger-derived products in the South Korean market increasing over the past two decades.  

Asian badger use in medicine 

From traditional uses such as badger meat and medicine, to new uses in cosmetics including facemasks, soaps and anti-aging creams, products derived from native Asian badgers (Meles leucurus) and non-native hog badgers (Arctonyx spp.) are legally sold in South Korea – including on an online-shopping platform owned by the American multinational e-commerce corporation, eBay – with potential ramifications for wild animals.

The research revealed that sellers across platforms predominantly stated that these products came from either legal badger farms in South Korea or wild badgers in other countries, particularly China and Russia. However, evidence suggests that badger poaching still takes place in South Korea.  

Asian badger farming increasing poaching 

Lead author and dual ZSL and UCL researcher, Joshua Elves-Powell said: “While badger farming was in-part introduced to alleviate pressure on wild badger populations in South Korea, we are concerned that it could have the opposite effect in the long-term. 

“Illegal badger poaching is known to still occur in South Korea and there is a risk that the legal trade acts as a smokescreen for the sale of illegal products, or the stocking of badger farms with illegally harvested wild animals. While a fall in households involved in badger farming since 2001 would give the impression that the practice had disappeared, evidence shows that the number of captive badgers in some provinces has actually increased in that time.

“Research into wildlife trade is often confined to bigger, more charismatic species, leading to other animals and plants being overlooked. A key issue here is that wild Asian badger and hog badger populations are often poorly monitored, which reduces the likelihood of any detrimental impacts on wild badger populations being noticed. 

 “Asian badgers are sociable, curious animals that are distinct from their more familiar European counterparts, but which share many similar traits and behaviours, such as the building of underground setts. We're still learning more about the species each year, but field surveys suggest that they may be an important seed disperser in the mountains of the Korean Peninsula." 

Zoonotic disease risk of wildlife trade

Another prominent concern is the risk of zoonotic spillover, with the scientists particularly worried about the lack of biosecurity regulations for badger farms.

Co-author, Professor Hang Lee of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University said: “The risk of disease transmission between captive animals and humans on wildlife farms has been widely documented, with one example being the outbreak of Covid-19 on mink farms in Europe in 2020 - mink being part of the same family as badgers - mustelids. We are concerned that badger farming may substantially increase the zoonotic disease risk in South Korea.” 

Bat disease zoonotic spillover

Animal welfare in Korean badger farms 

The study also highlights the insufficient regulation of animal welfare standards on Korean badger farms. Poor conditions can result in high levels of stress in captive animals, which in turn increases the risk of disease outbreaks. Badgers are territorial, highly social mammals who build underground setts in the wild, but the report shows that potential badger farmers are still presented with advice to build holding pens with wire or concrete floors to prevent badgers displaying their natural digging behaviours - as well as the separation of young from adults, and hormone injection in female badgers to induce breeding.  

 Joshua Elves-Powell continued: “South Korea has recently announced measures to end all bear farming by 2026 following increasing domestic pressure. However, badger farming appears to present many of the same risks, including risks to wild animal populations, animal welfare and human health.”  

The researchers say that one option available to policy makers would therefore be to phase out badger farming, in line with the new policy on bear farming. However, they caution that bringing an end to badger farming may need to be coupled with a broader ban on badger trade in South Korea, in order to prevent potentially stimulating illegal – and possibly unsustainable – trade of wild badgers. 

Elves-Powell concluded: “We urge the South Korean government to consider a comprehensive strategy on badger trade that considers both animal health and welfare, as well as human health, concerns. At the same time, there is a need to urgently improve the quality of monitoring of the current badger trade.”