ANIMAL WELFARE CHARITY WELCOMES SENEDD COMMITTEE’S SUPPORT FOR SNARING BAN

The Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs (ETRA) Committee’s stage one report includes a recommendation, backed by a majority of its members, that the use of these cruel animal traps is outlawed via the Agriculture (Wales) Bill.

The bill is set to be voted on over the coming months and, if passed, will make Wales the first country in the UK to ban snares.

Billie-Jade Thomas, the League’s senior public affairs officer (Wales) said: “With the League being among the organisations who gave evidence to the ETRA Committee in November, we are delighted to see that they have listened to our calls for a ban on the use of snares.

“Banning snares will help protect wild, farmed and domestic animals across Wales from these barbaric and indiscriminate traps.

“Wales is now firmly on its way to becoming the first country in the United Kingdom to consign snares to the history books.”

The League now plans to work with Members of the Senedd to ensure the ban makes its way safely through the Senedd and covers all types of snares, including so-called ‘humane’ cable restraints, as they cause suffering and cruelty to both the target and non-target species caught in them.

Snares are thin wire nooses which are used to trap animals around the neck, and can cause horrible life-threatening injuries, strangulation or a lingering death.

They are used extensively by shooting industry gamekeepers to target any animal they think threatens ‘game’ birds.

However, their indiscriminate nature is highlighted by government figures revealing nearly three quarters are not the intended target species.

Other wild animals such as badgers fall victim to snares, as well as domestic pets

Government figures highlight the scale of the issue – 51,000 snares lie hidden in the Welsh countryside at any one time.

Pollingcommissioned by the League and undertaken by YouGov in 2021 shows how unpopular snares are, with 78 per cent of the Welsh public wanting them banned.

The League is now calling on the Welsh public to contact their Members of the Senedd, asking them to support the proposed ban in its current format.

Billie-Jade Thomas added: “We’re on the brink of achieving a landmark change for animals in Wales with the banning of these barbaric devices.

“We need to ensure the ban makes its way safely through the Senedd to protect animals from all snares and are counting on the support of the Welsh public and Members of the Senedd to make this happen.”

Ends

Notes to editors

The Government figures on non-target species are based on the results of field trials for the 2012 report Determining the Extent of Use and Humaneness of Snares in England and Wales.

Polling: All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,085 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 15th - 19th January 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all adults in Wales (aged 18+).

For more information or interview requests please contact the League Against Cruel Sports Press Office on 07496 496454 (24hrs) or email pressoffice@league.org.uk