Senedd members this week passed groundbreaking new legislation to ban the use of snares in an effort to provide greater protection for the nation’s wildlife.

The pioneering Welsh legislation marks a historic moment as it becomes the first nation in the United Kingdom to institute a ban on snares. This significant milestone was achieved as part of the Agriculture (Wales) Bill, which is expected to come into force later this summer.

Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has been a vocal advocate for the ban, voicing deep concerns about the indiscriminate nature of snares and the suffering they cause to wild animals. “They are not compatible with the high animal welfare standards we strive for here in Wales,” she has said.

The ban on snares in Wales has drawn widespread praise and been hailed as a victory for wildlife by nature protection organisations including Wild Moors, Animal Aid and the League Against Cruel Sports. They are now appealing to other nations in the UK, including England and Scotland, to swiftly implement similar bans on snares.