Gloucestershire badger cull falls short of target 17 October 2013 Last updated at 09:51 The number of badgers shot during a six-week cull in Gloucestershire has fallen short of its target, environment secretary Owen Paterson has told MPs. Defra said 708 badgers have been culled in Gloucestershire, just 30% of the badger population. The original target was 2,900 badgers, based on a population estimate of 3,400 animals. The target was revised to 1,650, from a population of 2,350. Defra has advised that the period of culling this year should be extended. Safe and humane The government department's chief veterinary officer said the cull would achieve the "earliest and greatest possible impact" on bovine TB in Gloucestershire. "Natural England is therefore considering an application for an extension from the cull company in Gloucestershire," a statement from the organisation said. A decision is expected shortly. The badger cull in Gloucestershire ended this week. A licence was granted last week to extend the badger cull in Somerset until 1 November. Defra said early indications from Gloucestershire are that, as in Somerset, the pilot has been "safe and humane." Last week Mr Paterson said the government was exploring the possibility of gassing badgers to cull carriers of bovine TB.