The use of snares and glue traps has been banned in Wales from today, in a UK first.
The Welsh government says the move marks an “historic day for animal welfare”.
Rural affairs minister, Lesley Griffiths, said Wales strives for the “highest standards of animal welfare”.
“The use of snares and glue traps are incompatible with what we want to achieve,” she said.
“Many animals will now be spared the most terrible suffering as a result of this ban.
“I’m proud Wales is the first of the UK nations to introduce such a move.”
Snares are a trap which usually have a noose of wire or cord, while glue traps are small boards with very sticky adhesive.
Campaigners have welcomed the ban.
Will Morton, head of public affairs at the League Against Cruel Sports said Wales was “leading the way in animal welfare”.
“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,” he said.
He added the league now planned to lobby the UK and Scottish governments to follow suit.
There are concerns, however, that a total ban will impact some conservation projects.
Countryside Alliance’s Wales director, Rachel Evans, said she questioned the way the legislation came to fruition and the evidence behind it.
She added the alliance believes the ban “risks hampering conservation efforts to protect rare ground nesting birds such as curlew”.
She has urged members and supporters of the Countryside Alliance to follow the law.
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Welsh government minister Lesley Griffiths said the move to ban snares and glue traps was not a matter of preventing predator or rodent control.
“There are other more humane ways to do this,” she added.
