Watch: Illegally Shot Juvenile Marsh Harrier Recovered From Għar Lapsi
An illegally shot juvenile Marsh Harrier, known as the Bagħdan Aħmar in Maltese, was recently recovered from Għar Lapsi.
Local environmental NGO BirdLife Malta were called on-site to retrieve the bird after a group of hikers encountered the injured bird on Sunday morning.
“Over the weekend, the ongoing autumn hunting season continued to take its toll on migratory birds of prey, with a protected Western Marsh Harrier becoming the second illegal hunting casualty to be recovered by BirdLife Malta in less than 24 hours,” BirdLife Malta said on social media earlier today.
“Following its recovery, the raptor was taken to the government vet who yesterday confirmed that it had been illegally shot,” BirdLife Malta’s Head of Conservation Nicholas Barbara said in a video shot shortly after the retrieval of the injured bird of prey.
This illegal hunting incident occurred on the same day of the retrieval of the adult Greater Flamingo from offshore Gozo, in the vicinity of Ta’ Ċenċ.
“Even this bird was confirmed as suffering from a gunshot wound following an examination by the vets,” Barbara said.
Luckily, both birds were recommended for rehab by the vet, and have now started their long journey towards recovery.
In a video, Barbara warned against the culture of impunity which is allowing hunters to commit such crimes, mainly for taxidermy purposes.
This is just another bird from the many being illegally shot during the ongoing hunting season, which opened on 1st September.
What do you make of these persisting illegalities by Malta’s hunters?
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