Wales is set to become the first country in the UK to see a complete ban on snares. On Tuesday, Members of the Senedd voted on banning the traps which is a long piece of wire with a loop at the end often used to trap and capture animals.
Leading animal welfare charity, the League Against Cruel Sports, has praised MSs in Wales, saying that the decision was a "crucial vote" on snaring. The vote to ban snares was part of the stage three debate on the Agriculture (Wales) Bill, during which amendments designed to water down the snares ban were rejected.
As early as next week, the legislative process will move on to the fourth and final stage, in which the Senedd is expected to ratify the bill, subject to King Charles III's consent. It follows after a five year campaign by League Against Cruel Sports.
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In response to the Senedd's vote, Will Morton, the head of public affairs for the charity, said: "Wales is leading the way in animal welfare by being the first country to ban these cruel and indiscriminate traps. We thank the thousands of campaigners who are backing the ban in Wales and the MSs who gave cross party support to make it become a reality."
Mr Morton added: added: “The ban on the use of snares will protect wild, farmed and domestic animals from falling victim to these brutal devices, a move that will be welcomed by the vast majority of the Welsh people. The next step is to lobby the UK and Scottish governments to follow the precedence set in Wales and to ban these barbaric devices."
Nearly quarter of a million lie hidden in the British countryside at any one time, and are used by shooting industry gamekeepers on 'game' bird shoots to trap wildlife. They tighten around the neck, torso or legs of the animal and cause immense pain and suffering to their trapped victims for hours or days before the animal is either shot or faces a lingering death.
According to government figures from Defra, nearly three quarters of the animals caught are not the intended target species. Polling carried out by YouGov in January 2021 showed 78 per cent of the Welsh public wanted snares to be made illegal. Once the Agriculture (Wales) Bill is passed, it is said that the ban will then come into force two months after receiving royal assent.
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