The Scottish Parliament has voted to outlaw fox hunting north of the border, ahead of the rest of the UK.
MSPs voted by 83 to 36 votes, with five abstentions, to pass the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Bill which will bring an end to a centuries-old tradition in Scotland.
The vote was reached after a six-hour and 15 minute debate in the Parliament and is a spectacular victory for anti-hunt groups.
It is likely to be several weeks before the Bill receives Royal Assent. Parliament voted to give the final go-ahead to a member's Bill which was first launched in 1999 by Labour MSP Mike Watson.
Scotland's devolved administration, a Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition, had remained officially neutral since the Bill was first launched by Mr Watson, who was then a backbencher.
Mr Watson, who also sits in the House of Lords as Lord Watson, has since been appointed tourism, culture and sport minister.
The Bill makes it an offence to use dogs to hunt wild mammals, effectively ruling out mounted fox hunting and some other activities such as hare coursing. It carries a penalty of heavy fines or a six-month prison term.
PA