Red kites have been one of Britain's greatest conservation success stories, but lead poisoning from shot game remains a significant ongoing welfare threat.
Lead poisoning in red kites causes neurological damage, loss of coordination, inability to feed, starvation, and death. Birds in early stages may be observed staggering or unable to fly and are often found dying beside roads. The welfare harm is entirely preventable if hunters switch to non-toxic ammunition. Despite this, voluntary uptake of copper alternatives has been slow, and mandatory requirements in the UK apply only to certain contexts.