Wildlife Welfare

Wild Whooper Swan Winter Welfare UK

Whooper swans winter in the UK from Iceland and face welfare challenges from lead poisoning, power line strikes and wetland loss.

Key Facts

Whooper swans migrate from Iceland to winter in UK wetlands and agricultural land
Lead poisoning from ingested shot and fishing weights causes significant mortality
Power line strikes kill an estimated 50 whooper swans annually in the UK
Wetland habitat availability determines wintering ground distribution and welfare
WWT Caerlaverock and Slimbridge host major wintering populations with monitoring programmes

Welfare Considerations

Whooper swan welfare involves lead poisoning prevention, power line mortality reduction and wetland habitat protection. Each intervention addresses a distinct welfare threat requiring different stakeholder action.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for lead ammunition and fishing weight bans to reduce swan poisoning
Advocate for power line marking in key swan flight corridors to reduce collision mortality
Support WWT and RSPB programmes monitoring and protecting wintering swan populations