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This morning, University of Life Sciences doctoral student Madis Leivits and environment minister Marko Pomerants in Tartu County released the sea eagle brought to be treated due to lead poisoning.
Gallery: healed of poisoning, eagle flies free
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According to Mr Leivits, sea eagles sick or dead are the sad consequence of every hunting season. For the most part, they have been feeding on carcases of animals contaminated with lead – from the bullets and pellets used by hunters.
Even in tiny doses, lead is deadly for birds. Not harmless, says Mr Leivits, to humans and other animals either – meat hunted with lead ammunition is harmful to almost all organ systems, as well as mental abilities.
As urged by Mr Leivits, hunters better use the less hazardous lead-free ammunition.
«The bird released today was spared thanks to swift action taken by Tartu County hunters, brought in for treatment. It’s healed now and free to fly again,» said Mr Leivits.
In a year, some dozen sea eagles get brought to Mr Leivits. Alas, most will have already been died. In 2015, four were brought still alive. Of these, two were healed after treatment and released back into the wild.
One was mercy-killed due to several old and open bone fractures. Another was too long into the poisoning.