The needs of wild animals can simply not be met in a travelling circus. Extreme confinement, frequent transport and relocation and training for performance increase the risk of stress and, in some cases, ill-treatment of the animals.

bTB is a disease that can be transmitted from wild badgers to cattle. Cattle infected with bTB face serious health and welfare problems and as a result are slaughtered, financially impacting on farmers. UK governments have tested various means of badger culling to control bTB infection in cattle over the past 30 years. After reviewing the results of a trial badger cull in England the UK Government decided in 2008 against further killing.

One party official has resigned in disgust, others are known to be unhappy and several SNP MSPs have signalled their opposition. Snaring, they say, is cruel and inhumane, sometimes forcing innocent animals to slowly strangle themselves.

Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham MSP gave evidence to the Public Petitions Committee this afternoon about Scottish Government policy on snaring. She was called by the Committee as part of its consideration of the 10,000 strong petition against snaring that was lodged almost two years ago.