Animal Trap Laws in Selected 

Jurisdictions: 

Supplemental Report

Bahrain • Belize • Bermuda • Cuba • El Salvador • Greenland 

Guyana • Jamaica • Lebanon • Liberia • Maldives • Morocco 

Nicaragua • Niger • Nigeria • Philippines • Seychelles 

South Korea • Thailand • Trinidad and Tobago 

Tunisia • United Arab Emirates 

October 2016

The Law Library of Congress, Global Legal Research Center

(202) 707-6462 (phone) • (866) 550-0442 (fax) • law@loc.gov • http://www.law.gov
This report is provided for reference purposes only. 

It does not constitute legal advice and does not represent the official 

opinion of the United States Government. The information provided 

reflects research undertaken as of the date of writing. 

It has not been updated.
Animal Trap Laws in Selected Jurisdictions: 

Supplemental Report

Global Legal Research Center Staff 

SUMMARY This report covers twenty-two jurisdictions that were not included in the Law Library of 

Congress’s previous table of nations that restrict or ban leg-hold animal traps (Report No. 

2016-013806). For each jurisdiction, an explanation is given of the legislation located. 

The report includes seven additional countries (Belize, Cuba, Greenland, Liberia, Nigeria, 

Philippines, and South Korea, each marked with an asterisk below), which to some degree 

or under certain conditions, prohibit the use of traps. The report also highlights related 

laws on the treatment of animals. 

Bahrain 

Law No. 2 of 1995 on protecting wildlife, which was promulgated by Decree, did not prohibit 

the use of leg-hold traps. However, article 6(a) prohibits all types of hunting unless the 

designated government body has issued special permission. The government body referred to by 

the Law is the Public Authority on the Protection of the Environment, Wildlife, Livestock, 

and Fisheries.1

Belize* 

The Wildlife Protection Act provides that it is unlawful to hunt wildlife using a variety of 

methods, including any traps, unless otherwise permitted by regulations.2

 Section 4 of the Act 

further prohibits the carrying of a trap for the hunting of wildlife in an area that is closed to 

hunting. There does not appear to be any further legislation that specifies in more detail the 

prohibitions on traps, nor that makes it legal to use them in certain areas. The 2000 revised

edition and annual index of the Laws of Belize show no further legislation regulating the use of 

traps in hunting. 

Bermuda

Section 9 of the Protected Species Act describes a series of offenses applicable to individuals 

who damage, destroy, injure, remove, or obstruct the habitat or nest of any protected species; 

however, it does not explicitly refer to leg-hold traps, instead proscribing any kind of harm to

1 Law No. 2 of 1995, AL-JARĪDAH AL-RASMĪYAH [OFFICIAL GAZETTE], no. 2146, 11 Jan. 1995, p. 3,

http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/LegislationSearchDetails.aspx?id=2482#.V9byFEbYjcI (in Arabic), archived at 

https://perma.cc/UAY8-KD2K. 

2 Wildlife Protection Act (as of Dec. 31, 2000), Cap. 220, § 3(d), http://www.belizelaw.org/web/lawadmin/ 

PDF%20files/cap220.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/BUM3-ANY5. 

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Animal Trap Laws in Selected Jurisdictions: Supplemental Report 

protected species generally.3 The Endangered Animals Act further provides that it is an offense 

to take, including by trapping, endangered animals.4 Unless specifically authorized, traps, 

weapons, projectiles, and poisons are not permitted on property, both land and water, owned by 

the Bermuda National Trust.5

 Other than for protected or endangered species, or on specified 

land, there does not appear to be any legislation that prohibits or regulates the use of leg-hold 

traps for hunting animals in Bermuda. This information was obtained by a review of the Annual 

Laws Index to the Laws of Bermuda and a search of the Bermuda Laws Online database.

6

 

Cuba* 

No information could be located in print or online on any general Cuban statute specifically 

banning or limiting the use of leg‐hold traps or similar traps. However, a regulation governing 

the 2015–16 hunting season in Cuba prohibited the use of traps in hunting activities.7

El Salvador 

The Law on Conservation of Wildlife does not prohibit the use of leg-hold traps. Article 20 

prohibits the use and mistreatment of wildlife species in all kinds of shows; in addition, their 

transit through the national territory must be in accordance with international conventions.8

Article 12 states that regulatory norms will be established for the control of wildlife species that 

harm or threaten human health, agriculture, and livestock in the country.9

 However, such

regulatory norms were not located. 

3 Protected Species Act 2003, c. 13, http://www.bermudalaws.bm/laws/Consolidated%20Laws/Protected%20 

Species%20Act%202003.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/QN84-SUQH. 

4 Endangered Animals and Plants Act 2006, c. 25, §§ 2–3, http://www.bermudalaws.bm/laws/Annual%20Laws/ 

2006/Acts/Endangered%20Animals%20and%20Plants%20Act%202006.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/RE8Z42C2. 

5 Bermuda National Trust (Open Spaces and Property) Regulations 1975, SR&O 75/1975, http://www.bermuda 

laws.bm/laws/Consolidated%20Laws/Bermuda%20National%20Trust%20(Open%20Spaces%20and%20Property)

%20Regulations%201975.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/AHH6-CZ9R.

6

 BERMUDA LAWS ONLINE, http://www.bermudalaws.bm (last visited Sept. 21, 2016), archived at 

https://perma.cc/ZC2A-EN65. 

7 Agricultura Resolucion No. 976/2015 (que aprueba el calendario para la práctica de la caza, durante la temporada 

cinegética 2015-2016 y sus regulaciones complementarias [Resolution 976/2015 (approving the calendar for hunting 

season 2015–16 and its regulations)], Anexo II(Tercero), GACETA OFICIAL [OFFICIAL GAZETTE], Dec. 9, 2015, 

available at http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/cub154672.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/X24V-J2N3. 

8 Decreto No. 844, Ley de Conservación de la Vida Silvestre art. 20, DIARIO OFICIAL [D.O.], May 25, 1994, 

http://www.asamblea.gob.sv/eparlamento/indice-legislativo/buscador-de-documentos-legislativos/ley-deconservacion-de-vida-silvestre (click on “Descargar”), archived at https://perma.cc/BC3B-V77N. 

9 Id. art. 12.

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The Penal Code does not penalize the use of leg-hold traps. Article 260 penalizes with 

imprisonment of two to four years any person who employs poison, explosives, or other 

instruments or skills likely to cause a similar destructive result for hunting or fishing.10

Greenland* 

Greenland is part of Denmark and is governed by a self-governance instruction.11 The 

Greenlandic Parliament (Inatsisartut) has the power to regulate all matters that fall under the selfgovernance agreement with Denmark.

12 Greenland is not a member of the European Union. Its 

relationship with the European Community is governed by a special treaty entered into following 

the granting of home rule.13 

In the area of hunting, Greenland has issued its own legislation. The legislation mentions the use 

of traps generally and authorizes the Greenlandic Government to issue rules for hunting, 

including rules that relate to the use of hunting equipment (including traps).14 

The Home Rule Greenlandic Government has also issued legislation that regulates the hunting of 

polar bears, which specifically prohibits the use of leg-hold traps when hunting these animals.15 

Similarly, in fox-specific legislation dating back to 1989, Greenland prohibits the use of all form 

of traps, including leg-hold traps, that do not kill the fox immediately.16

10 Decreto No. 1030, CÓDIGO PENAL art. 260, D.O., June 19, 1997, http://www.asamblea.gob.sv/eparlamento/indicelegislativo/buscador-de-documentos-legislativos/codigo-penal (click on “Descargar”), archived at

https://perma.cc/UAY3-9NLQ. 

11 LOV OM GRØNLANDS SELVSTYRE (Lov nr. 473 af 12. juni 2009 om Grønlands Selvstyre) [Act on Greenland’s 

Self-Governance (Law No. 473 of June 12, 2009)], http://www.stm.dk/multimedia/selvstyreloven.pdf, archived at

https://perma.cc/EQ6Q-EM7Q. 

12 Id. ch. 1 § 1.

13 Treaty Amending, with Regard to Greenland, the Treaties Establishing the European Communities, Feb. 1, 1985, 

1985 O.J. (L 29) 1, http://naalakkersuisut.gl/~/media/Nanoq/Files/Attached%20Files/Bruxelles/EU%20and%20 

Greenland/The%20European%20Union%20and%20Greenland/Greenland%20Treaty%20eng.pdf, archived at

https://perma.cc/YCX2-RTHG. 

14 LANDSTINGSLOV NR. 12 AF 29. OKTOBER 1999 OM FANGST OG JAGT [PARLIAMENTARY ACT NO. 12 OF OCTOBER 

1999 ON FISHING AND HUNTING] § 8, http://lovgivning.gl/lov?rid=%7b1A6BE69B-3B89-4173-BAC1-

1C61736FF93C%7d#, archived at https://perma.cc/RM9T-63AP. 

15 § 9, stk 2 Hjemmestyrets bekendtgørelse nr. 21 af 22. september 2005 om beskyttelse og fangst af isbjørne [Home 

Rule Government Regulation No. 21 of September 22, 2005 Regarding the Protection and Hunting of Polar Bears], 

http://lovgivning.gl/lov?rid={699D9C77-D0A7-42D9-B90F-F9F04FA99E3D}, archived at https://perma.cc/AV2K97R6. 

16 § 3, stk 2 Hjemmestyrets bekendtgørelse nr. 20 af 17. maj 1989 om fredning af ræve i Grønland [Home Rule 

Government Regulation No. 20 of May 17, 1989 on the Protection of Foxes in Greenland], http://lovgivning.gl/ 

lov?rid={24A1AAA3-5DB3-4D44-BF4C-C260735AF766}, archived at https://perma.cc/C47P-VKXG.

The Law Library of Congress 3
Animal Trap Laws in Selected Jurisdictions: Supplemental Report 

Guyana

While no specific prohibition on the use of leg-hold traps was located, Guyana’s Criminal Law 

(Offenses) Act does generally prohibit injury to domestic animals.

17 Sources reviewed include 

the Laws of Guyana (print edition, 1973) and the Guyana Acts, for which the Library has 

incomplete holdings, as well as the Guyana Consolidated Index of Statutes and Subsidiary 

Legislation dating to January 2011, and online sources. 

Jamaica 

Jamaica’s Cruelty to Animals Act, 1904,

18 prohibits cruelty to animals, but does not specifically 

regulate leg-hold traps. The Act provides, “[e]very person who cruelly beats, ill-treats, starves, 

drives, over-rides, over-loads, abuses, tortures, or otherwise maltreats any animal, shall be guilty 

of an offence against this Act.”19 

Lebanon 

Lebanon’s Penal Code contains a few articles criminalizing certain acts related to animals but 

none includes a ban on the use of leg-hold traps.20 Legislative instruments available on the 

website of the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, which has supervisory authority over matters 

related to animals,

21 and general Internet sources are also silent on the subject.

Liberia* 

A 1957 law prohibits the use of traps in certain circumstances, banning the trapping of 

chimpanzees or female monkeys “with sucking young” and the use of any arrow traps.22 It also 

imposes an absolute ban on the use of traps in national parks.23 In all other circumstances, it 

requires the acquisition of permits for the use of traps or snares.

24 

17 Criminal Law (Offenses) Act §§ 120, 121, LAWS OF GUYANA, Cap. 8:01, L.R.O. (Law Revision Order) 3/1998, 

available on the Organization of American States website, at http://www.oas.org/juridico/spanish/mesicic2_ 

guy_criminal_law_act.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/E6PG-2SJV. 

18 LAWS OF JAMAICA, Cap. 86, 1973 Rev., L.N. (Legal Notice, published in Gazette Supplement) 92c/2012, 

available on the Jamaica Ministry of Justice website, at http://moj.gov.jm/sites/default/files/laws/The%20 

Cruelty%20to%20Animals%20Act.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/66GK-4YS9. 

19 Id. § 3. 

20 LEBANESE PENAL CODE (issued by Legislative Decree No. 340 of 1943) arts. 605 & 742, available at

https://www.unodc.org/res/cld/document/lebanon-penal-code_html/Lebanon_Penal_Code_1943.pdf (in Arabic), 

archived at https://perma.cc/R4DC-PBPJ. 

21 LEBANESE REPUBLIC, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, http://www.agriculture.gov.lb/Arabic/Pages/Main.aspx (in 

Arabic; last visited Sept. 22, 2016), archived at https://perma.cc/Z47K-3ZH8. 

22 An Act Supplemental to “An Act for the Conservation of the Forest of the Republic of Liberia,” Passed and 

Approved April 17, 1953, pt. 8, “Wildlife Resources,” § 9, Feb. 28, 1957, available at http://faolex.fao.org/docs/ 

pdf/lbr3216.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/898W-EGQT. 

23 Id. § 10.

24 Id. § 11. 

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Animal Trap Laws in Selected Jurisdictions: Supplemental Report

A 1988 law similarly bans the possession of traps and snares in a national park or national 

reserve except by persons on official duty.25 Significantly, it bans the use of any “tension, steal 

jawed or leg-hold trap” to hunt or capture any animal.26

It is unclear whether these laws are in force today. 

Maldives

Maldives has enacted an Environment Protection and Preservation Act,

27 but it does not contain 

provisions on the use of traps for wild animals. Other rules and regulations could not be 

consulted because they were available only in the Dhivehi language.28

According to section 3 of the Regulation on the Protection and Conservation of Environment in 

the Tourism Industry,

29

3.1 Protected birds or marine living species shall not be caught or kept in cages or other 

enclosed space in an island or land leased for the development of tourism. 

3.2 It is prohibited to carry out any activity that would harm the protected living species 

in an island or place leased for the development of tourism, or harming or shifting their 

nests or habitat or eggs.30

A review of the Law Library’s print collection and online government sources, including the 

Environmental Protection Agency and the Attorney General’s websites,

31 revealed no specific 

provisions on animal leg-hold or body traps.

25 Wildlife and National Parks Act § 19, July 21, 1988, available at http://faolex.fao.org/cgi-bin/faolex.exe?rec_id= 

002194&database=FAOLEX&search_type=link&table=result&lang=eng&format_name=@ERALL, archived at

https://perma.cc/G72S-NYXS.

26 Id. § 37. 

27 Environment Protection and Preservation Act of Maldives, Law No. 4/93, available on the Environmental 

Protection Agency website, at 

http://www.epa.gov.mv/images/stories/laws%20and%20Regulations/Environment%20Protection%20and%20Preser

vation%20Act%20%28Law%20No.%204-93%29/English.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/8NK5-ZJQW. 

28 Laws & Regulations, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES, http://www.epa.gov.mv/ 

index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=7&Itemid=8 (last visited Sept. 30, 2016), archived at 

https://perma.cc/T7LA-7ZJK. 

29 Regulation on the Protection and Conservation of the Environment in Tourism Industry (made pursuant to

Maldives Tourism Act, Law No. 2/99) (unofficial translation), http://www.tourism.gov.mv/downloads/unofficialtranslation.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/368E-TQJR. 

30 Id. § 3. 

31 Statutes, ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, http://agoffice.gov.mv/english/laws.html, archived at

https://perma.cc/YYY9-7585. 

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Animal Trap Laws in Selected Jurisdictions: Supplemental Report 

Morocco

No legislation banning leg-hold traps for animals was found on the Ministry of Justice Adala 

Legal and Judicial Portal, which contains the laws of Morocco. However, the Moroccan Penal 

Code does criminalize certain other acts against animals owned by others.32 

Nicaragua 

Nicaragua’s Law on Special Offenses Against the Environment and Natural Resources does not 

specifically prohibit the use of any trap. Article 37 imposes a fine in Córdoba (the national 

currency) equal to approximately US$5 to $500 on anyone who mistreats, treats with cruelty, 

physically harms an animal by means of beating, punishment, or excessive burden, whether the 

animal is domestic or not, and regardless of the purpose of doing so, when such actions cause the 

animal impairment, harm to its health, stress, or death.33 

The Penal Code does not penalize the use of leg-hold traps. However, it penalizes with fines and 

community service anyone who mistreats, treats with cruelty, or physically harms an animal by 

means of beating, punishment, or excessive burden, whether the animal is domestic or not, 

causing the animal impairment, harm to its health, stress, or death. A person who performs 

shows displaying violence between animals is penalized with imprisonment for three to six 

months. If the shows are for profit, the term of imprisonment is six months to two years.34

Niger 

Hunting in Niger is governed by a 1998 Law35 and a Decree of the same year.36 Hunting is only 

allowed for holders of a hunting permit.37 Hunting through the use of fire, nets, pits, drugs, 

poison, fixed guns, explosives, or arms or munitions of war is prohibited.38 Traps may only be 

32 MOROCCAN PENAL CODE (issued by Royal Decree No. 1.59.413 of 1962, as amended), arts. 601–603, 

http://adala.justice.gov.ma/production/legislation/ar/Nouveautes/الجنائي القانون.pdf (in Arabic), archived at 

https://perma.cc/S77V-NSHS. 

33 Ley No. 559, Ley Especial de Delitos Contra el Medio Ambiente y los Recursos Naturales art. 37, Oct. 26, 2005, 

LA GACETA [L.G.], No. 225, Nov. 21, 2005, available at http://www.fao.org/forestry/12966-01d2c590f5db3fda9 

fe2e0e504befef1a.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/5LKA-2GLW. 

34 Ley No. 641, CÓDIGO PENAL, L.G., May 5–9, 2008, available at https://www.oas.org/juridico/mla/sp/nic/ 

sp_nic_Nuevo_Codigo_Penal_%20Nicaragua_2007.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/4D4B-2HWN. 

35 Loi No. 98-07 du 29 Avril 1998 portant régime de la chasse et de la protection de la faune [Law No. 98-07 of 29 

April 1998 Establishing a Regulation on Hunting and the Protection of Fauna], available at http://www.coderuralniger.net/IMG/pdf/04-_Loi_N98-007_chasse_et_protection_de_la_faune.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/LZP4-

YHA5. 

36 Décret No. 98-295/PRN/MH/E du 29 octobre 1998 déterminant les modalités d’application de la loi No. 98-07 du 

29 Avril 1998 portant régime de la chasse et de la protection de la faune [Decree No. 98-295/PRN/MH/E of 29 

October 1998 Determining the Terms of Application of Law No. 98-07 of 29 April 1998 Establishing a Regulation 

on Hunting and the Protection of Fauna], available at http://www.coderural-niger.net/IMG/pdf/18-_Dcret_N98-

295_chasse_et_faune.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/PG8P-CAXB. 

37 Loi No. 98-07 du 29 Avril 1998, arts. 3 & 5.

38 Id. art. 8.

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Animal Trap Laws in Selected Jurisdictions: Supplemental Report 

used during daytime and must be removed before nightfall.39 Leg-hold traps are not specifically 

discussed in any provision. Nigerien law states that no wild animal should be mistreated or 

suffer any abuse,40 but no information was found indicating that Nigerien authorities would 

consider the use of leg-hold traps to constitute mistreatment or abuse.

Nigeria* 

Nigeria is a federation of thirty-six states with Abuja as its federal capital territory.41 While the 

federal government enjoys exclusive legislative jurisdiction on matters affecting national parks, 

matters affecting the protection of wildlife outside of such areas appears to be within the purview 

of the states.42 

A 1999 federal law bans the possession, use of, or setting of a snare, net trap, “or any other 

instrument for the purpose of capturing or killing an animal” in national parks unless authorized 

to do so.43

The laws of ten of the thirty-six states were located, and all ban the use of traps in one form or 

another: Anambra,44 Bauchi,45 Borno,46 Cross River,

47 Enugu,48 Kaduna,49 Katinsha,50 Kano,51

Lagos,

52 and Sokoto.53 A sample of those laws are highlighted below. 

39 Décret No. 98-295/PRN/MH/E du 29 octobre 1998, art. 24. 

40 Loi No. 98-07 du 29 Avril 1998, art. 22.

41 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, 1999, § 3, available at http://www.wipo.int/edocs/ 

lexdocs/laws/en/ng/ng014en.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/HMG5-8BZH. 

42 Id. § 4. 

43 National Parks Service Act, No. 46 of 1999, §§ 30 & 31, May 29, 1999, as amended in 2006, available on the 

Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) website, at http://lawsofnigeria.placng.org/laws/N65.pdf, archived at

https://perma.cc/3DLQ-8GT5. 

44 Wild Animals Law of 1965, § 30, 7 LAWS OF ANAMBRA STATE OF NIGERIA, Cap. 130 (rev. ed. 1979).

45 Wild Animals Edict of 1984, § 33, 3 LAWS OF BAUCHI STATE OF NIGERIA, Cap. 167 (rev. ed. 1991).

46 Wild Animals Law of 1963, §§ 27 & 33, 3 LAWS OF BORNO STATE, Cap. 143 (rev. ed. 1994). 

47 Wild Animals Preservation Law: Wild Animals Preservation (Licences) Regulations, No. 12 of 1916, § 10, 6 

LAWS OF THE CROSS RIVER STATE OF NIGERIA, Cap. 127 (rev. ed. 1981); Wild Animals Preservation Law: Wild 

Animals Preservation (Traps) Regulations, No. 78 of 1944, §§ 2 & 3, 6 LAWS OF THE CROSS RIVER STATE OF 

NIGERIA, Cap. 127 (rev. ed. 1981). 

48 Wild Animals Preservation Law of 1991: Wild Animals Preservation (Licences) Regulations § 3, 6 REVISED 

LAWS OF ENUGU STATE OF NIGERIA, Cap. 157 (rev. ed. 2004).

49 Wild Animals Law of 1963, § 27, 3 LAWS OF KADUNA STATE OF NIGERIA, Cap. 162 (rev. ed. 1991).

50 Wild Animals Law of 1963, § 27, 3 LAWS OF KANTISHA STATE OF NIGERIA, Cap. 143 (rev. ed. 1991).

51 Wild Animals Law of 1963, § 27, LAWS OF KANO STATE OF NIGERIA, Cap. 151 (rev. ed. 1991). 

52 Wild Life Preservation Law: Wild Life Preservation (Licences) Regulations § 10, 7 LAW OF LAGOS STATE OF 

NIGERIA (rev. ed. 2003); Wild Life Preservation Law: Wild Life Preservation (Traps) Regulations §§ 1 & 2 

(rev. ed. 2013). 

53 Wild Animals Law of 1963, § 27, 4 LAWS OF SOKOTO STATE OF NIGERIA, Cap. 151 (rev. ed. 1993). 

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Animal Trap Laws in Selected Jurisdictions: Supplemental Report

Anambra State

Anambra State prohibits the use of traps in game reserves and against protected animals. It 

specifically prohibits the setting of a “snare, net, trap or other instrument for the purpose of 

catching or killing an animal or which is likely to catch, kill or injure an animal” in a game 

reserve without authorization.54 It also prohibits making or using “any game pit, net, trap for the 

purpose of killing or capturing any protected animal or protected bird.”55

Bauchi State

Bauchi State prohibits the use of traps against any wild animal unless authorized to do so. Its 

Wild Animals Edict provides that “[n]o person shall . . . make, expose or offer for sale or have in 

his control or possession or use any trap other than that prescribed for the control of pests unless 

otherwise authorized.”56 It also prohibits setting “any snare, net, trap or other instrument for the 

purpose of catching or killing animals” in any game reserve unless authorized to do so.57 The 

law defines the term “trap” as “any contrivance designed, calculated, intended or capable of 

being used to capture or cause to suffer any animal, but excluding any firearms approved under 

the provisions of this law or any regulations made thereunder.”58

Cross River State

Cross River State prohibits making or using “any game pit, net or trap for the purpose of killing 

or capturing any protected animal or protected bird.”59 A 1944 law defines the term “trap” and 

imposes an absolute ban on their use. A trap is “any mechanical contrivance having jaws, such 

as jaws having a space between them of more than four inches and such contrivance being 

designed, calculated or intended to be used or capable of being used to capture, injure or destroy 

any animal or bird.”60 The law states that “[a]ny person who shall make, or shall expose, or 

offer for sale, shall have in his control or possession or shall use any trap” commits an offense.61

Philippines*

No information could be located in print or online on any Philippine law specifically banning or 

limiting the use of leg‐hold or similar traps. However, the Philippine Wildlife Resources 

54 Wild Animals Law of 1965, § 30, 7 LAWS OF ANAMBRA STATE OF NIGERIA, Cap. 130 (rev. ed. 1979).

55 Wild Animals Law: Wild Animals Preservation (Licenses) Regulations § 10, 7 LAWS OF ANAMBRA STATE OF 

NIGERIA, Cap. 130 (rev. ed. 1979).

56 Wild Animals Edict of 1984, § 33, 3 LAWS OF BAUCHI STATE OF NIGERIA, Cap. 167 (rev. ed. 1991).

57 Id. § 26. 

58 Id. § 2. 

59 Wild Animals Preservation Law: Wild Animals Preservation (Licences) Regulations § 10.

60 Wild Animals Preservation Law: Wild Animals Preservation (Traps) Regulations § 2.

61 Id. § 3. 

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Animal Trap Laws in Selected Jurisdictions: Supplemental Report 

Conservation and Protection Act prohibits hunting wildlife.62 In addition, the Philippine Animal 

Welfare Act prohibits cruelty against animals and imposes penalties of imprisonment and fines 

on those who exhibit such conduct.63 

Seychelles

A 1979 regulations prohibit possession of traps in the Aride Island Special Reserve and Cousin 

Island Special Reserve.64 No other law specifically addressing the matter was located. Laws 

reviewed for this inquiry include the Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act of 1961 and its 

subsidiary,65 the Environmental Protection Act of 1994,66 and the Prevention of Cruelty to 

Animals Act of 1902.67

South Korea* 

At present there are no Law Library research staff members versed in the Korean language. 

Specific information on animal trap laws was not found in English-language materials online or 

in the Law Library’s collection. 

A White Paper from the Ministry of Environment (MOE) suggests that leg-hold trap regulations 

may exist even though they could not be located. The White Paper states that the MOE “worked 

together with private organizations to remove approximately 19,000 snares, traps, and other 

illegal poaching equipment set up throughout the country.”68 

62 Republic Act 9147, Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act § 27-f, July 30, 2001, http://www.gov. 

ph/2001/07/30/republic-act-no-9417, archived at https://perma.cc/BH3N-DS5W. 

63 Republic Act 8485, Animal Welfare Act, as amended, §§ 1, 9, Feb. 11, 1998, reproduced in BIODIVERSITY 

MANAGEMENT BUREAU, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, WILDLIFE RESCUE CENTER:

MANUAL OF OPERATIONS 59–60 (2014), http://www.bmb.gov.ph/index.php/mainmenu-publications/references/ 

doc_download/917-wrc-manual-of-operation, archived at https://perma.cc/QBC2-TC4P. 

64 National Parks and Nature Conservancy Act: National Parks (Aride Island Special Reserve) Regulations § 6, 

Oct. 16, 1979; National Parks and Nature Conservancy Act: National Parks (Cousin Island Special Reserve) 

Regulations, Oct. 16, 1979, both Acts available at http://www.seylii.org/files/Cap%20141%20National%20Parks 

%20and%20Nature%20Conservancy%20Act_0.docx, archived at https://perma.cc/4FCS-TMQ5. 

65 Wild Animals and Birds Protection Act No. 37 of 1961, Apr. 14, 1961, available at http://www.seylii.org/ 

files/Cap%20247%20Wild%20Animals%20and%20Birds%20Protection%20Act.doc, archived at

https://perma.cc/JJD6-P94U. 

66 Environment Protection Act, No. 9 of 1994, Mar. 1, 1995, available at http://www.seylii.org/files/Cap%20 

71%20Environment%20Protection%20Act_0.doc, archived at https://perma.cc/H9BU-TNYH. 

67 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, No. 23 of 1902 (Oct. 2, 1902), available at

http://www.seylii.org/files/Cap%20179%20Prevention%20of%20Cruelty%20to%20Animals%20Act.doc, archived 

at https://perma.cc/CVL7-2EWC. 

68 4 MOE, ECOREA: ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW 2015, KOREA, ch. 8 at 7, http://eng.me.go.kr/eng/file/ 

readDownloadFile.do;jsessionid=KEirW1aWT5dlLMd7PL1x6Al4rPwPKGrbXbkTDGT12EZLRU09Q8ajmWGlv

MtnYG1V.meweb2vhost_servlet_engine3?fileId=121529&fileSeq=5, archived at https://perma.cc/2B5A-VHEQ. 

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Animal Trap Laws in Selected Jurisdictions: Supplemental Report 

The Wildlife Protection and Management Act requires persons who intend to capture harmful 

wild animals to obtain permission from the local government.69 An ordinance establishes what 

is needed to obtain permission and what methods of capture may be used.

70 The Enforcement 

Ordinance for the Wildlife Protection and Management Act states that when a person who 

obtained a license wants to capture a wild animal, the person may use tools, such as firearms and 

snares, that are permitted by the MOE. However, the person must not hurt the dignity of the 

animal’s life.71 The MOE regulation that establishes which types of snares are permitted was 

not located. 

Thailand 

At present there are no Law Library of Congress research staff members versed in the Thai 

language. Information concerning animal trap laws was not found in the English-language

materials online or in the Law Library’s collections. Two laws were identified that may have 

relevant provisions, but it appears that neither mentions traps.72 

Trinidad and Tobago 

A search of the Law Library’s collection as well as online sources failed to identify specific acts 

addressing traps or cruelty toward animals. The Conservation of Wild Life Act was identified 

through a search of the print version of the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago (LTT), but that Act 

does not address traps or cruelty to animals.73 A search of the Alphabetic List of Revised Laws, 

Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, published by the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal 

Affairs, also has not identified any anti-cruelty provisions or provisions on animal traps.74

Tunisia 

The National Portal of Legal Information, a part of the website of the Presidency of the 

Government in Tunisia, was consulted to determine if any legislation bans the use of leg-hold 

69 Act No. 10977, July 28, 2011, amended by Act No. 12521, Mar. 24, 2014, art. 23(1), http://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_ 

service/lawView.do?hseq=32441&lang=ENG, archived at https://perma.cc/92Y8-U4XG. 

70 Id. art. 23(7).

71 Enforcement Ordinance for the Wildlife Protection and Management Act, MOE Ordinance No. 171, 

Feb. 7, 2005, amended by MOE Ordinance No. 633, Dec. 31, 2015, art. 31(2)(a). 

72 Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act, B.E. 2535 (1992), available at http://thailaws.com/law/t_laws/ 

tlaw0317.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/TX4W-8UJA; Prevention of Animal Cruelty and Provision of Animal 

Welfare Act, B.E. 2557 (2014), http://app-thca.krisdika.go.th/Naturesig/CheckSig?whichLaw=law2&folderName 

=%bb53&lawPath=%bb53-20-2557-a0001, (in Thai, examined using online translation service), archived at

https://perma.cc/75F5-K99C. 

73 Act 16 of 1958, as amended, LTT ch. 67: 0l L.R.O. 1/2013, earlier version of Act, L.R.O. 1/1980, available at 

http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/tri4483.pdf, archived at https://perma.cc/MEB8-9YCW. 

74 Alphabetic List of Revised Laws, MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND LEGAL AFFAIRS, http://www.legal 

affairs.gov.tt/Laws_listing.html (last visited Sept. 8, 2016), archived at https://perma.cc/4RLE-MU7E. 

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Animal Trap Laws in Selected Jurisdictions: Supplemental Report 

traps for animals. No such legislation was located. It should be noted, however, that the 

Tunisian Penal Code contains some provisions criminalizing other acts related to animals.75 

United Arab Emirates 

Federal Law No. 9 of 1983, on hunting, does not mention any prohibition on leg-hold traps. 

However, article 2 prohibits the hunting of hyenas, wild cows, rabbits, and agamid lizards. 

There are nine emirates within the Union, each of which has its own regulations on local hunting. 

Information about local hunting regulations was not located, as the Law Library’s collection 

contains the federal laws of the United Arab Emirates, but not the local regulations of the 

individual emirates.76

75 TUNISIAN PENAL CODE OF 1913, as amended, arts. 310 & 317, http://www.legislation.tn/sites/default/files/ 

codes/PenalArabe.pdf (in Arabic), archived at https://perma.cc/Y2DA-AL6V. 

76 Law No. 9 of 1983, AL-JARĪDAH AL-RASMĪYAH, vol. 133, 19 Dec. 1983, p. 11, available at http://qistas.com/ 

legislations/uae/view/23623 (in Arabic), archived at https://perma.cc/3Z6S-XWSY. 

The Law Library of Congress 11