Wild Red Kite Lead Poisoning: An Ongoing Conservation Welfare Crisis

Red kites - one of Britain's greatest conservation success stories - continue to suffer significant mortality from lead poisoning via contaminated carrion and shot game, undermining recovery.

Key Facts

Red kites were successfully reintroduced to England, Scotland, and Ireland from Welsh stock from 1989 onwards
The UK population has recovered to over 6,000 pairs, making it one of conservation's greatest success stories
Lead poisoning from ingestion of lead shot and bullet fragments in game carrion is the leading cause of non-natural mortality
Kites are scavengers that readily consume offal and carcasses; lead fragments from rifle bullets disperse widely in shot game
Post-mortem studies consistently find lead toxicity in a high proportion of kites examined
Lead poisoning causes neurological impairment, weakness, organ failure, and prolonged suffering before death
Copper and other non-lead alternatives are available for all calibres and game types
The UK banned lead shot over wetlands in 1999 but has not yet banned it comprehensively for upland game shooting

Welfare Considerations

Lead poisoning of red kites is a preventable welfare crisis that persists because of the continued legal use of lead ammunition in game shooting. Individual kites that ingest sufficient lead suffer progressive neurological deterioration over days to weeks - a prolonged and painful death. The switch to non-toxic alternatives is technically and economically feasible; the voluntary transition promoted by shooting organisations has been slow. A mandatory phased ban on lead ammunition would eliminate this source of welfare harm for kites and the many other scavenging species affected, including buzzards and ravens.

What You Can Do

Support the RSPB and WWT's campaign for a ban on lead ammunition in shooting
If you participate in game shooting, switch to non-lead alternatives for all ammunition
Report sick or dead red kites to local wildlife organisations for post-mortem examination
Advocate for comprehensive lead ammunition legislation covering all game shooting contexts
Donate to red kite conservation and monitoring programmes