The Welsh Assembly aims to kill every badger in an 111sq mile area of south-west Wales, in a bid to curb the spread of bovine tuberculosis among cattle.
A zone, believed to lie mainly in north Pembrokeshire has been designated for a pilot cull of badgers, in which they will be trapped and shot over the next five years.
Welsh Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones has come under attack from wildlife groups, conservationists and even farmers for commissioning the cull, which is one of a number of measures aiming to control TB in the region.
Opposition to the cull has questioned its legitimacy on numerous grounds, including whether or not it will be effective in reducing incidents of TB in cattle and whether it is right that landowners should be forced to allow cullers on their property against their will.
The Badger Trust is fighting an ongoing legal battle against the Assembly over the cull's legality. Their appeal over the judicial review which allowed the cull will be heard on June 30th. Elin Jones has said the cull will be halted until the outcome of the appeal is known.
This website explores the reasoning behind the cull and the controversy that surrounds it.
VIDEO - CULL HALTED
