Wildlife charity calls for catapult ban

Shepperton Swan Sanctuary has issued the plea after a spate of bird killings.

A wildlife charity has called for a ban on catapults following a spate of bird killings in early 2024.

Shepperton Swan Sanctuary has responded to incidents in Essex, Greater London and Surrey. Volunteer Danni Rogers has since started a petition calling for a ban on the sale of catapults and having them in public.

Mr Rogers wants a change in the law because the police have told him it is hard to take action unless the attackers are caught in the act – he believes with catapults and ammunition freely available to buy online with no age restrictions, many attackers "are doing it because they can get away with it".


A Canada Goose taken into care by Shepperton Swan Sanctuary (Shepperton Swan Sanctuary).

Mr Rogers said: "I just can't see how a catapult isn't classed as a dangerous weapon and how a 10-year-old, 12-year-old, can walk the streets carrying it. They shouldn't be able to buy them. I don't understand why it's a thing you can buy in this country."

He added that while these kind of attacks have "been happening forever", more may be being reported by people keen to explore the countryside after the pandemic.

"More people have been walking local rivers, local parks but since November onwards there has been an increase in calls regarding attacks on animals. It's always been there but it does seem to have escalated."

The petition needs to be signed by 10,000 people to get an official response, and 100,000 by 20 June to be discussed in Parliament.