Badger release

[Barry3]

Last week I was privileged to photograph the release of a badger back into the wild. The badger had been in a coma for 3 days after being injured in a road accident. South Essex Wildlife Hospital nursed it back to health. They are a volunteer based registered charity relying on public donations for support.
The chairman of the local badger protection group asked me to photograph the release. We took Brock back to the location of the accident for release. Once clear of the travel cage, Brock seemed to recognise he was back home and ambled away without a care.Below is a plug for the Hospital.
Barry

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The hospital has recently been granted planning consent to build a purpose built unit including education facilities. They need to raise a considerable amount of money to realise this project
Contact Name:
Miss Sue Schwar

Contact Address: P.O. Box 8, Grays, Essex RM17 5FF.
Title: South Essex Wildlife Hospital

Telephone: 01375 893893

Membership Charges: £10 per year, if quarterly newsletter requested

Description: Aims: Rescue and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife. Also to provide advice or assistance to public and other organisations, e.g. Police, Council, Schools, etc. Wildlife Education, Work Experience assignments

[badger426]

Great job mate. good to see my brother back where he belongs.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Barry3

The hospital has recently been granted planning consent to build a purpose built unit including education facilities.

A university for badgers - excellent

[demicav]

They must do a wonderful job and it's always nice to see animals recovered and released back into the wild.

[Gill Catton]

Has anyone done any research into the success rate of such re-introductions? I know badgers can be pretty aggressive and wonder how readily they take an animal back?

[Meles meles]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Has anyone done any research into the success rate of such re-introductions? I know badgers can be pretty aggressive and wonder how readily they take an animal back?

Yes someone once done a study, It was found that they had quite a low survival rate. Alot of them were found to be banished from the clan or killed by their clan.

[Meles meles]

Originally Posted by eeyore

A university for badgers - excellent

Night school fool he he

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Meles meles

Yes someone once done a study, It was found that they had quite a low survival rate. Alot of them were found to be banished from the clan or killed by their clan.

Oh that's really sad

[Dogghound]

From papers iv read, they try to release badgers in groups not alone this way they can form a new sett, the release of a single badger into a new area is a big risk.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

From papers iv read, they try to release badgers in groups not alone this way they can form a new sett, the release of a single badger into a new area is a big risk.

thats my understanding as well - although in the instance this thread is about the badger was released back into his home range - I understand that if you are doing this the key is to leave the badger unhandled for at least 24 hours prior to realse so that he doesnt smell funny when he meets up with his clan again.