Conservationist Sacha Dench has welcomed new legislation banning the sale of lead ammunition, warning that the public remains largely unaware of the severe threat it poses to wildlife. Dench, a member of the Lead Ammunition Collective, which successfully campaigned for the ban, highlighted the significant impact of lead poisoning on birds across Europe.
Dench, also known as the "Human Swan" for her 2019 paramotor journey tracking the migration of Bewick's swans, stated that up to 100,000 water birds in the UK and potentially a million across Europe are estimated to die annually from lead poisoning. She noted that this level of mortality is sufficient to push some species toward extinction.
Scientists and conservation organizations have long raised concerns about lead shotgun pellets contaminating habitats. Dench explained that when birds, particularly water birds, ingest these pellets mistaking them for food or grit, the lead is ground down in their stomachs, leading to poisoning. She estimates that between 7,000 and 13,000 tonnes of lead are dispersed into nature in the UK each year from ammunition.
Legislation prohibiting the sale and use of lead shot in England, Wales, and Scotland is scheduled to take effect in April 2029. This move is supported by figures like deer manager Sharif Adams, who has already transitioned to non-toxic ammunition. Adams, chairman of the South West branch of the British Deer Society, described the switch as a "no-brainer" for conservation-focused deer management and noted practical benefits, such as game dealers increasingly preferring venison from deer processed with non-lead ammunition.
The Lead Ammunition Collective was recognized with the RSPB Medal, the charity's highest honor, for its advocacy. Dench commented that the award signifies a broad coalition working towards conservation, including groups not typically associated with the environmental movement. The RSPB Medal was accepted by Dr. Ruth Cromie and Prof. Debbie Pain on behalf of the collective.