A comprehensive natural history of one of Britain,s
favourite animals The badger has for many years occupied
a unique place in the British consciousness. Despite the
fact that most people have never seen one, the badger
has become one of Britain's best-loved animals. The
number of organisations that use the badger as a logo,
the number of websites featuring information about
badgers, and the number of voluntary badger protection
societies that exist are testament to this popularity.
In fact, the attitude of most ordinary people towards
badgers is complex and contradictory, involving a
combination of familiarity and ignorance, concern and
indifference. For an increasing number of people,
badgers constitute an important source of interest and
pleasure, be it through watching them in their gardens
or in the wild, sharing badger-related knowledge and
experiences with others via the internet, or defending
badgers against threats to their welfare. For others, on
the other hand, badgers are a problem species that
requires active management. In this highly anticipated
new study, Prof Tim Roper explores every aspects of the
biology and behaviour of these fascinating animals.In
doing so, he reveals the complexities of a lifestyle
that allows badgers to build communities in an
astonishing variety of habitats, ranging from pristine
forests to city centres. He also reveals the facts
behind the controversy surrounding the badgers' role in
transmitting tuberculosis to cattle, shedding new light
on an issue that has resulted in one of the most
extensive wildlife research programmes ever carried
out. |
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