New bid to ban catapults after attacks on animals

There have been numerous attacks on swans and geese using catapults throughout 2024

A wildlife campaigner from Surrey is making a fresh attempt to ban the sale of catapults and ammunition, after they were used in attacks on animals.

Danni Rogers, a volunteer at Shepperton Swan Sanctuary, launched his first bid in January 2024, but his petition fell with other proposed legislation when the general election took place in July.

Mr Rogers said he was trying again after being contacted by pet owners, vets and farmers, all reporting catapult attacks on a wide range of animals.

His petition needs 10,000 signatures to get a response from the government and 100,000 to trigger a debate in Parliament, with a deadline of 27 May.

Mr Rogers said: "Initially the petition was to help protect water birds, but it became clear very quickly due to the public response that it wasn't just swans, geese, and ducks that were under attack.

"Members of the public and vets were getting in touch, sharing their experiences of domestic pet attacks, cats, and even dogs, then farmers with livestock were reaching out with how they were finding cows, sheep and horses that had been targeted.

"To limit the ways people can buy, the purchase of ammunition and a full ban of being able to carry catapults in public won't just help protect water birds from the cowardice and cruel attacks, it will protect domestic pets and more."

Swans and geese have been brought into wildlife sanctuaries with serious injuries

Mr Rogers said 2024 saw an alarming increase in cases he was called to, and he fears the real number of attacks may be much higher.

He said: "In comparison to 2023, January to October we have seen a tenfold increase to 75 of those attacks we were able to rescue or were made aware of.

"For every attack victim we can rescue there are probably another three or four with injuries that allow them to escape rescue but die or are already dead somewhere else."

Mr Rogers' previous attempt at a ban was backed by Surrey's Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner.

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