Scottish ecologist fights to keep rescued badger cub Harriet
Graeme Wilson is seeking permission to provide a permanent home for the animal after wildlife authorities rejected his licence application.
Scottish ecologist Graeme Wilson is fighting to retain a badger cub named Harriet whom he rescued from a cattle trough in the Scottish Borders in April, according to reports by the Times of India.
Wilson, who operates GW Ecology from Denholm, discovered the starving cub approximately 100 metres from her sett. He has since nursed the animal back to health, but he believes returning her to the wild could be dangerous.
The ecologist applied to NatureScot for an educational licence to continue caring for Harriet. However, the application was rejected, with the authority suggesting the cub should be returned to the wild or transferred to a zoo.
Wilson fears that releasing the cub could lead to her approaching people, while he believes a zoo environment would leave her isolated and distressed. He suspects Harriet may have been hand-reared before her rescue due to her familiarity with humans.
The British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council has highlighted the importance of specialist care and veterinary supervision. Paul Reynolds, the organisation's chair, noted that an animal becoming accustomed to human contact should not automatically justify permanent captivity.
NatureScot has indicated that discussions with Wilson and other organisations are continuing to find a resolution. The authority stated that Harriet's welfare remains central to its decision-making process.