The Scottish Environment Minister Michael Russell MSP will this week launch a new best practice guide for snaring in Scotland. Snaring in Scotland: A Practitioner's Guide, comes nine months after the Government's controversial decision not to ban snares but to instead regulate their use.

The guide was produced without consulting any animal welfare groups. Scottish campaigns manager Louise Robertson said; 'Although we are against the regulation of such cruelty we are pleased the code of practice is finally being implemented because the sooner this happens the sooner it will be reviewed. Regulation have shown not to work in the past and will not work now and we are confident when the situation is reviewed this will be highlighted.'

See also Election winner pledges snares support

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Aldi, the German discount supermarket chain, stops its bullfighting promotion on its Viva Espana products following the League's intervention. The League contacted Aldi with regard to the products'logo that depicted a matador and asked to have it removed. In a letter to the League managing director, Tony Baines, said: I am pleased to be able to advise you that it is our intention to change the image on these products for any future promotions.

Florian Leppla, bullfighting campaigner at the League said: "We would like to congratulate Aldi. It shows once more that companies are aware that the British public do not accept bullfighting promotion of any kind. We hope that others will follow suit."

New figures have revealed that over £160,000 of public money has been spent since 2003 on renewing the temporary protection order on the Irish hare. This shows that not only is a permanent protection order the only viable option to protect the future of the hare but is also the most cost effective way of doing so.

Louise Robertson, Northern Ireland campaigns manager said, 'We believe these figures are just the tip of the iceberg and would urge the Environment Minister to invest in the future of the hare by granting a permanent protection order which would safeguard its future once and for all.

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A damning report by the League Against Cruel Sports has been released revealing the shocking extent of wildlife persecution as a result of snaring in Scotland.

The report, Blood on the Wire, is a culmination of four years of investigations into snaring practices on estates north of the border. The results show a gruesome catalogue of wildlife killing and suffering as well as regulatory system which is failing.

Scottish Campaigns Manager for the League, Louise Robertson said, 'The SNP Government's decision not to ban snares when it had the opportunity to implement the necessary legislation to outlaw these cruel traps was seriously misguided. As this report shows regulation has not worked in the past and will not work in the future. The simple fact that the new measures have yet to be implemented highlights a distinct lack of commitment from the Government on this issue.'  

Read the report (pdf document)

read about our snaring campaign

The Crawley and Horsham Hunt has lost a legal bid to  restrict the activities of  anti-bloodsport activists . A High Court  judge has ruled that there were 'fundamental defects' in the claim brought before him and refused  an order banning trespass and nuisance. He awarded costs against the hunters.

Read more on the BBC news website

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The majority of Conservative Party supporters back the ban on fox hunting and do not want the Hunting Act repealed, according to a new poll published today - views that are in direct opposition to leader David Cameron's pro-hunting stance.

The poll by Ipsos-MORI was conducted on behalf of the League Against Cruel Sports and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). It shows that twice as many Tory supporters favour the ban as want it repealed. Nearly six-in-ten (59%) say they want to retain the Hunting Act, with just three in ten (30%) wanting to repeal it.

Douglas Batchelor, Chief Executive of the League Against Cruel Sports said: 'David Cameron is an astute politician and will see that the overwhelming majority of voters do not want a return to the past. The balance of opinion is clear among voters across the political spectrum. He must make it clear to the dinosaur element within his Party that the will of the public cannot be ignored.'

Read our comments and have your say on the League blog

Shooting estates that use illegal methods of predator control have been sent a firm message that the killing of wild animals is not acceptable. On September 19th a gamekeeper received a six-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to killing hundreds of buzzards badgers and ravens. Kyle Burden, 19 worked for the Kempton Estate in Shropshire and kept a coded diary detailing the number of animals that he had killed.

In another case, a large grouse moor in Scotland has had its subsidies cut because of suspicions that illegal pesticides found on the estate were used to poison birds of prey.

Louise Robertson, League campaigner said 'I'm delighted the English courts are taking a tough stance. Here in Scotland there is a real problem with the slaughter of raptors, invariably in areas where there are shooting estates. A crack-down on the perpetuators of these horrible crimes is long overdue.'

Read more on these stories on the BBC website and Guardian online

Never Mind the Buzzcocks star Bill Bailey is throwing his weight behind the League's bullfighting campaign.

The actor and comedian said: 'I am delighted that the League has joined with our European friends to put an end to bullfighting. I have signed the World Wide Bullfighting Pledge and I urge everyone else to do so. Bullfighting has to go!

Over 20,000 people have now signed the League's pledge, which was launched just a few weeks ago by Coronation Street star, Lucy Evans.

Coming soon: Look out for Lucy Evans' video diaries when she visits Spain to discover some of the many ethical alternatives to bullfighting. 

Visit Bill Bailey's Website

Sign the World Wide Pledge