The State Duma has finally agreed that Russia needs "humane traps."

This combination sounds oxymoronic but reflects progressive change. Old traps, which catch a fur animal by the feet, have been used for the last 60 years. They are truly barbaric - the animals die a long and agonizing death. What is offered instead? Also death, but it will be instant - a better choice for any living being in a fatal situation.

The Duma-approved bill on ratifying the agreement on international humane trapping standards affecting 19 species of wild animals must be approved by the Federation Council and the president. The European Union and Canada have been waiting for Russia's decision for a decade now. The three sides signed it in April 1998, but it cannot come into force until every side completes the required legal procedures.

The Duma rejected the agreement initially because it means a considerable increase in expenses for hunters. Later on, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Vladimir Izmailov demonstrated to the MPs a tiny "humane trap" (weighing 400 grams). He explained that hunters will not have to pay too much - factory price will be a mere 170 rubles (a little over $7). Moreover, the re-equipment process will take from four to eight years.

Canada and the U.S. have been using "humane traps" for more than 80 years. Russian experts have considerably improved them and received a Canadian certificate. It is possible to start mass producing them any time. But the current picture remains sad.

Yevgeny Kuznetsov, a leading associate of the Center for the Protection of Wild Animals said: "An estimated number of night and day birds of prey caught in traps every year is over 300,000. Most often, these traps snap golden eagles, white-tailed sea eagles, northern falcons, black vultures, and eagle and snow owls, some of which are endangered species. ‘Humane traps' are practically fail-safe, which is very important for hunters, and are not likely to snap non-profile species."

Damage from the death of trap­ped non-profile and rare species has legal and financial aspects. In material terms, this damage runs into as much as 2 billion rubles per year. This is double the profit which Russia is getting from sable exports.

What sanctions may be imposed on Russia if it does not ratify the agreement? Kuznetsov gave this answer: "In this case the document will cease to exist and the tough 1991 EU regulations will come into force. Russian fur will be totally barred from the market - no sable or any other fur will be allowed. We will not be able to sell fur even through third countries. America has enough of its own fur, and China is not yet ready for massive purchases of such a luxury product as sable."

Kuznetsov believes that in the worst case, sable hunting will simply be discontinued in a number of years.

This will contribute to the protection of wild animals. And what about those for whom hunting is a means of survival? It is possible to sell sable at home. One MP called for buying sable coats for Russian women. But domestic prices will be so much lower that this patriotic solution will be economically pointless.