The grant was previously used to fund other local projects such as BirdLife Malta’s project focused on tracking Mediterranean Gulls and Yellow-legged Gulls and FKNK’s Barn Owl Re-Introduction Phase IV project.

The exhibition project garnered quite a reaction on social media, with many entities and environmentalists disagreeing with work that might hint at the promotion of hunting in Maltese schools. 

BirdLife Malta had said that using schools to greenwash the killing of birds is deplorable, adding that the world needs a future that respects nature, not one that kills it.

“It is indeed a shame and embarrassing that Minister for Education Clifton Grima is allowing the use of our schools with our children, to try and help in greenwashing the reality of hunting in Malta.”

“Hunting is not beneficial to the common good of our country. It is simply performed for the enjoyment and benefit of those that kill the bird. There are no conservation efforts in Malta that need hunting,” it continued.

“These are only greenwashing tactics to lessen the image of the real consequence of hunting – birds shot dead.”

The Office of the Commissioner for Children had also expressed its concern that hunting exhibitions in school “may inadvertently promote the use of firearms amongst school-aged children”.

The Malta Union of Teachers also said that it does not approve of the hunting exhibition in local schools, adding that it has always condemned any killing of living species and its promotion in schools.

What do you make of this recent development?