A group of hunters rescued a young flamingo that landed in Malta after it got exhausted on its way to Africa.

The flamingo landed in L-Għadira is-Safra, a Natura 2000 site, when it was picked up by the caretakers of the park and hunters, Kaċċaturi San Ubertu.

It isn’t uncommon to spot flamingos flying across Malta as they migrate to Africa throughout this time of the year. However, some juvenile flamingos become exhausted on their journey and end up landing in Malta to rest.

“It has become common for the offspring of these birds to search for ground. This is because they aren’t strong enough to reach Africa with the rest of their peers,” said the hunting group.

“The lack of proper food on the Maltese islands, as well as the young age of these birds, requires human intervention for them to gain their strength and continue migrating.”

Flamingos are also at risk of being shot down by illicit hunting as was the case last weekend.

However, in this case, KSU stepped in and passed on the flamingo to the appropriate authorities for safekeeping.

“Members of KSU gathered the flamingo and passed this bird to the ALE police division, which is the body that collects protected birds.”

Earlier this week, hunting lobby group Federazzjoni Kaccaturi Nassaba Konservazzjonisti (FKNK) condemned the brutal killing of the flamingo in Delimara and dissociated itself from the act while calling on its members to help find the perpetrators.

“The FKNK is not only strongly condemning this criminal act, but is asking for the help of all its members, especially those in the area, in order to provide all possible information and assistance to the police to apprehend the perpetrators,” it said.

“Such people have no place in the federation.”

The autumn hunting season in Malta is expected to start on 1st September and run until 31st January.

Another flamingo was also spotted bathing, and posing for the camera, in the south of Malta today.