Lead ammunition residues in a hunted Australian grassland bird, the stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis): Implications for human and wildlife health

Hampton, Jordan O.; Dunstan, Heath; Toop, Simon D.; Flesch, Jason S.; Andreotti, Alessandro; Pain, Deborah J.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0267401

Cited by 6 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 52 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Stubble quail ( Coturnix pectoralis ) are small (~100 g) ground-dwelling galliforms (Hampton et al, 2022c ) and are one of very few native non-waterfowl bird species that can be legally hunted in Australia, and the only such species that can be hunted in the state of Victoria. They are commonly harvested using shotguns and gundogs on privately owned agricultural land and public lands (game reserves) (Ray et al, 2022 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is, however, growing awareness of the issue amongst the Australian recreational hunting community (Howlett, 2020 ). One recent study documented radiographic evidence of lead ammunition residues in a single game bird species (Hampton et al, 2022c ), but did not quantify lead concentrations in the meat of these birds. Like most countries (Nkosi et al, 2021 ; Thomas et al, 2020 ), Australia has a maximum level of 0.1 mg/kg (ppm) wet weight (w.w.) for meat from cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry (excluding offal), but no level is set for game meat (Food Standards Australia New Zealand, 2017 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Lead contamination in Australian game meat

Hampton

Pain

Buenz

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Lead-based ammunition (gunshot and bullets) frequently leaves small lead fragments embedded in the meat of wild-shot game animals. Australia produces several commercial game meat products from wild animals harvested with lead-based ammunition and has a growing population of recreational hunters. However, no studies have previously investigated the frequency of lead fragments or lead concentrations in Australian game meat. We examined 133 Australian minced game meat items of four types for evidence of lead contamination. Samples were meat from kangaroos (Macropus and Osphranter spp.; n=36) and Bennett’s wallabies (Notamacropus rufogriseus; n=28) sold for human consumption, and deer (‘venison’; multiple spp.; n=32) and stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis; n=37) harvested for private consumption by recreational hunters. All packages were studied by digital radiography to detect the presence of radio-dense fragments, assumed to be lead fragments from ammunition. Visible fragments were absent in commercially available kangaroo products, but were present in 4%, 28% and 35% of wallaby, venison and quail, respectively. Mean meat lead concentrations (mg/kg wet weight) were 0.01 ± 0.01 for kangaroo, 0.02 ± 0.01 for wallaby, 0.12 ± 0.07 for venison, and 1.76 ± 3.76 for quail. The Australian food standards threshold for livestock meat (0.1 mg/kg w.w.) was not exceeded by any kangaroo or wallaby products but was exceeded by 53% and 86% of venison and quail, respectively. Radiography only detected 35% of samples that were above the food safety threshold. While average lead concentrations in commercially available macropod (kangaroo and wallaby) meat were low, those in recreationally harvested game meat may pose health risks for hunters and associated consumers.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead contamination in Australian game meat

Hampton

Pain

Buenz

et al. 2023

Environ Sci Pollut Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The stubble quail is the only native ground bird that can be hunted in the south-eastern Australian states of Victoria and South Australia [26]. In Victoria, they are hunted using shotguns and gundogs [26], mostly on privately owned agricultural land where cropping or grazing is the primary land use and have been hunted in this way for over 100 years [34,36]. In Victoria, the stubble quail hunting season extends from the first Saturday in April to the end of June, inclusive, each year (the hunting season) [34], with a strict daily bag limit (20 birds per hunter per day).…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Assessing the efficacy of electronic quail callers in attracting stubble quail and non-target predators

et al. 2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hunting is a prominent feature of many human societies. Advancements in hunting technologies can challenge the ethics and sustainability of hunting globally. We investigated the efficacy of an electronic acoustic lure (‘quail caller’), in attracting the otherwise difficult-to hunt stubble quail Coturnix pectoralis in Victoria, Australia. Using distance sampling, the density and abundance of stubble quail was estimated at 79 sites across a range of habitat types in an agricultural setting, each with an active ‘quail caller’ station continuously broadcasting for 48 hours, and a control station (no broadcast). Quail detectability at the active stations (62.9%) far exceeded that at control stations (6.3%). Most (57%) detections occurred within 30 m of active ‘quail callers’. Stubble quail relative abundance was substantially greater when ‘quail callers’ were broadcasting. Cameras mounted near ‘quail callers’ identified the predatory red fox as a non-target predator, although rates of attraction appear similar between active and control sites. ‘Quail callers’ are highly effective at attracting stubble quail and concentrating them to a known area, raising questions in relation to sustainable hunting practices, indirect effects, and ethical implications. ‘Quail callers’ do, however, also offer a tool for estimating quail abundance and developing more accurate population size estimates.

show abstract