Portugal’s hunting fraternity is wary of a new government study into substituting traditional lead shot for something that is less environmentally hazardous. Their concerns hinge on whether alternatives will be more expensive. But the status quo has seen birds in lagoon areas poisoned by ingesting lead-shot, hence the need, explains agriculture minister Capoulas Santos, for a solution. Companies keen to get involved will be eligible for community funding.
President of the hunting federation Jacinto Amaro has explained that a number of ‘alternatives’ to lead exist, but they are either too expensive or too unsafe (for hunters).
Steel shot, for example, is “very dangerous” as it can ricochet as it leaves guns, wounding people and “just hurting animals” without killing them, “which isn’t good”, he said.
