A retired London zookeeper's ingenious invention, first created to vaccinate a timid tiger, could hold the key to solving one of the UK's most contentious wildlife issues: bovine tuberculosis in badgers.
From Shy Tiger to Wildlife Solution
The story began with Cinta, a young tiger at London Zoo who was too shy to feed in front of her keepers. This presented a major problem: how could staff administer her vital vaccinations without causing her significant stress? Tony Cholerton, a zookeeper with a background as a motorcycle engineer, rose to the challenge.
He invented the Robovacc, a remote-controlled machine that could deliver a quick jab without any human presence. Using a handset from a remote-control toy aeroplane, Cholerton successfully vaccinated Cinta from an adjacent room. The tiger, distracted by a meal, barely flinched as the needle penetrated, then calmly continued eating.
Aiming to Replace the Badger Cull
Cholerton, who retired in late 2025 after 30 years at London Zoo, now believes a fully automated version of his device, called the Autovacc, could revolutionise wildlife management. His primary target is the ongoing and controversial badger cull in England, implemented for over a decade to control bovine TB.
Currently, badger vaccination is a labour-intensive alternative, requiring animals to be trapped for several hours overnight before a trained person can inject them. In stark contrast, Cholerton's automated machine could vaccinate a colony of up to 20 badgers with minimal human intervention, detaining each animal for just a minute or two.
"The dream is to see it used by scientists and farmers," said Cholerton, who believes the prototypes could be mass-produced cheaply. "This is about giving the scientists the means to show that the science is correct, and badger vaccination works. The farmers win because they have a means to solve the TB problem in cattle. Everyone wins."
How the Automated 'Autovacc' Works
The system is designed around a Perspex tunnel baited with food. When an animal like a badger enters, smart technology prevents double-vaccination. A vaccinated animal is sprayed with nanoparticles that stick to its fur; sensors detect these on a return visit and open a door to an exit.
If the animal is unvaccinated, it is directed into a vaccination chamber. Its movement is briefly restricted so its hindquarters rest against sensors. In a split second, a needle is triggered from behind a protective sheath to administer the jab. Multiple safety mechanisms prevent injury, and the animal is released immediately afterwards.
The machine has already been tested on ring-tailed coatis, which share badgers' willingness to enter tunnels. Following its success with Cinta, zoo vets also used versions to vaccinate lions and Diana monkeys.
Expert Reaction and Future Potential
Rosie Wood, chair of the Badger Trust, welcomed the innovation's potential to reduce stress. "Vaccination of any wild species is stressful for the animal concerned so it’s heartening to know that jab-shy captive wild species can now be vaccinated stress free," she said.
However, she cautioned that while vaccination could prove badger populations could be kept TB-free, it might not directly lower TB rates in cattle. "Even Defra now concedes it is not possible to prove any measurable impact on bovine TB rates in cattle as a result of badger culling – and as killing them isn’t working, vaccinating them won’t either," Wood stated.
Cholerton remains hopeful. He envisions collaboration with conservation scientists, charities, and farmers to trial the Autovacc. "If it works for badger vaccination in a humane way, whatever government is in power will be obliged to take this route rather than just culling animals," he concluded.
