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A conservationist known for flying with swans has welcomed upcoming laws that will ban the sale of lead ammunition, warning that the public remains unaware of the severe threat toxic pellets pose to wildlife.
The Scale of Lead Poisoning in Wildlife
Sacha Dench, a Devon-based biologist from Chagford, is part of the Lead Ammunition Collective, which recently received the RSPB Medal—the charity’s highest honor—for campaigning against the substance. Widely recognized as “The Human Swan” for piloting a paramotor 4,300 miles from Arctic Russia to the UK to follow Bewick’s swans, Dench examined lead poisoning as a major hazard during her 2019 expedition.
Dench stated that up to 100,000 water birds die annually from lead poisoning in the UK, with the figure reaching approximately one million across Europe. She noted that this impact is severe enough to push certain species toward extinction, while many people remain oblivious to the issue.
According to Dench, every discharged cartridge can release up to 300 small lead pellets into nature, totaling between 7,000 and 13,000 tonnes spread across the UK each year. Birds frequently mistake these pellets for food or grit, grinding them down in their stomachs and suffering fatal poisoning as a result.
Upcoming Bans and Industry Adaptation
New legislation prohibiting the sale and use of lead shot in England, Wales, and Scotland is scheduled to take effect in April 2029. Ahead of the ban, some professionals have already transitioned to alternative materials.
Sharif Adams, a deer manager in the Teign Valley and chairman of the South West branch of the British Deer Society, explained that switching to non-toxic ammunition was a straightforward choice because his work focuses entirely on conservation. He added that practical considerations also drove the change, as game dealers increasingly refuse to buy deer shot with lead to protect the human food chain and the venison market.
Recognition for Collaborative Conservation Efforts
The RSPB Medal was accepted by Dr. Ruth Cromie and Prof. Debbie Pain on behalf of the Lead Ammunition Collective during the charity’s annual general meeting earlier in the month. Dench emphasized that the award highlights an unusually diverse alliance that successfully drove legislative change.
Dench remarked that the RSPB Medal is a prestigious honor previously awarded to figures such as David Attenborough and the King. She added that its significance lies in acknowledging a broad collective of people who do not typically collaborate on conservation initiatives.
