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Germany: Lead in Game

April 7, 2014

Most hunters in Germany cling stubbornly to their lead ammunition even though studies show the toxic heavy metal harms predator and prey alike.

https://p.dw.com/p/1BdLQ
DW - Jäger bei der Jagd
Image: DW

In other European countries with a hunting tradition, such as Britain or Sweden, using lead ammunition has long been illegal. In Germany, however, it's estimated that tons of lead are fired in German forests annually. Each year environmentalists say that birds of prey in particular are threatened with lead poisoning when they consume the remains of animals that have been shot. And people are said to be at risk from lead a well.

DW - Greifvogel mit Bleivergiftung
Image: DW