Animal tag applicator

An animal tag applicator comprising:

• first and second jaws for engaging an animal tag therebetween wherein the second jaw is movable relative to the first jaw for mounting said animal tag on the animal;
• a movable lever coupled to the second jaw, the lever being pivotally movable relative to a handle and the lever comprising a proximal portion for receiving a user's hand to effect pivotal movement of the lever and a distal portion adjacent the second jaw, the lever being arranged such that at least a first movement of the lever into an actuated position results in a resilient bias being applied to the second jaw for movement of the second jaw towards the first jaw;
• a stop member positioned relative to the second jaw member for maintaining the second jaw member in an intermediate spaced apart position relative to the first jaw to prevent biased movement of the second jaw towards the first jaw when the lever is in the actuated position;
• a trigger member coupled with the stop member such that movement of the trigger member into a triggered position effects biased movement of the second jaw towards the first jaw when the lever is in the actuated position;
• and
• a biasing arrangement positioned between the distal portion of the lever and the second jaw for biasing the second jaw in said at least actuated position of the lever;
• wherein the lever is arranged so that pivotal movement of the proximal portion of the lever towards the handle effects movement of the distal portion of the lever towards the second jaw to thereby apply said resilient bias to the second jaw towards the first jaw.