Human Swan launches public campaign to ban lead shot and save millions of birds from lead poisoning

 

UN ambassador for migratory birds and ‘Human Swan’, Sacha Dench, is calling on Ministers across Europe to heed the recommendations of European Chemicals Agency scientists and support proposals to remove lead from ammunition, which poisons millions of birds each year. 

German Ministers are a prime target for this campaign, with the largest vote in the EU. In an astounding move, Germany has indicated it might abstain from this vote, which would cause it to fail at a key stage. 

 

Sacha Dench, UN Ambassador for Migratory Species (CMS) and CEO of Conservation without Borders said:

“Now that Germany has just taken over the presidency of the EU it must live up to its proud history of environmental leadership by supporting this proposal. The alternative means the continued contamination of wetlands with a potent toxin in 27 EU countries.”

 

“It is pretty rare for Ministers to not support proposals from their expert European Chemicals Agency – these are the scientists and chemical specialists entrusted with protecting us from chemical hazards, and their recommendations are very clear. Abstaining on this vote is the equivalent of ignoring sound science. What makes it even more surprising is that this issue is highly relevant to agriculture and rural communities that any agriculture and food ministry is concerned with - the use of lead has implications for wildlife and human health, food safety, animal welfare, land values and decontamination, water quality and more. 

 

“I am sure there is a lot of pressure coming from the ammunition industries but I hope those in government will stand up for us and end this pointless death and suffering.”

 

Sacha’s journey flying with migrating swans by paramotor from the Russian Arctic to the UK was to find out why so many are dying, and she saw the extreme suffering of birds that have eaten lead shotgun pellets, mistaking it for grit or food.

                                                                                                                                                                                     

The graphic of Sacha flying a banner over Berlin is being used to rally pilots across Europe to join her to raise public awareness of the mass poisoning and horrific suffering of 4 million waterbirds, a million of whom die, each year from eating spent lead ammunition. Over 20,000 tonnes of tiny lead pellets are spread over Europe each year, every year. The lead pellets can dissolve in wetlands, affecting water quality, and getting into soils and plants.

 

Sacha continued:

“Most people assume lead poisoning is a problem of the past, because we removed it from petrol, paint and pipes, but uncontrolled release of lead ammunition continues in hunting despite there now being non-toxic alternatives. Not only that, meat shot with lead has been shown to be unsafe – fragments of lead ammunition spread far further into meat than was understood in the past - so we know removing lead from ammunition would stop poisoning of people too. There is also an issue of ‘duty of care’, a requirement of ministers to act in response to such science and protect the health of us all.

 

 

Watch her statement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOzRh36RQLk

 

CONTACTS & available for interview:

Sacha Dench (UK) - E: sacha@conservation-without-borders.org T: +44 (0)7534 698 525

Dr Julia Newth, (UK) Ecosystem Health & Social Dimensions Manager, WWT - E: julia.newth@wwt.org.uk 

Dr Niels Kanstrup, (Denmark) Senior Scientist, Biologist & Hunter - E: nielskanstrup@gmail.com T: +4520332999

 

Download statement here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ts8vr8eyejklfzn/Lead%20Statement%20Sacha%20Dench.mp4?dl=0

Images download:

Videos on lead ammunition poisoning:

WWT video on non-toxic ammunition

 

Notes to Editor

The ECHA proposal

· Countries that have indicated they will vote against or abstain include Germany, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Ireland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland and Malta. 

· The wetlands within four of those countries in particular – Germany, Estonia, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia – are havens for endangered migratory birds such as the Bewick’s swan, and millions of others. 

· An open letter from European scientists on the risks of lead ammunition 

· An evaluation of the proposal to regulate lead in hunting ammunition through the European Union’s REACH regulation 

· A European Green Deal aims to restore biodiversity and cut pollution and provides a framework for a healthy lead-free future