Man fighting for custody of badger he nursed back from starvation
An ecologist in Scotland is seeking an educational license to keep a rescued badger named Harriet, whom he claims is too habituated to humans to survive in the wild. NatureScot has currently denied the request, citing concerns about keeping protected wildlife in captivity.
Why it matters
The case highlights the ethical and legal complexities of wildlife rehabilitation and the tension between individual animal welfare and conservation policy.
Image caption, Graeme Wilson said the badger had become too used to humans to be released back into the wild
An ecologist in the Scottish Borders is fighting to be allowed to keep a badger that he saved from starvation.
Graeme Wilson was called out to help the cub, called Harriet, in April after she was found in a cattle trough 100m (300ft) from her sett.
Wilson nursed the badger back to health but believes she was hand-reared prior to this, and it would be impossible to return her to the wild.
NatureScot - which turned down his application for an educational licence to keep the animal - said it was continuing talks to try to find a "pragmatic solution".
Figure caption, Man sets his heart on keeping his badger
Wilson runs GW Ecology, a small independent rescue and rehabilitation service at his home in Denholm.
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