After Flock Of Protected Birds Massacred, BirdLife Asks Prime Minister To Step In
A flock of around 40 protected birds have reportedly been massacred by Maltese hunters over the last days, BirdLife Malta has claimed.
Following the massacre, BirdLife sent an open letter to Prime Minister Robert Abela, demanding that it is ensured the hunting season remains closed until 15th October with the proper enforcement.
The flock of Black Kites arrived on Monday 22nd August in the evening and tried to roost in the areas around Mtarfa and Mġarr.
According to BirdLife, hunters then started shooting at the birds late the same evening and the Environment Protection Unit within the Police Force was unable to attend to the report, leading to the hunters escaping with their catches.
During the night BirdLife Malta received reports of gunshots in the same area leading it to believe that the few remaining survivors were targeted once again, with only some individual birds being seen leaving the roost site the next day.
On Tuesday 23rd August a flock of 28 birds was seen coming in over Gozo and circling around Ramla Bay valley. The same scenario happened in Gozo with hunters aiming their guns at these magnificent birds.
When contacted to report this, the Gozo Police explained that they had no resources to be on site.
“The situation of bird protection has not been as bad since the 1980s. The way hunters are being given all they desire and at the same time enforcement and regulations are weakened is not only shameful but also illegal,” BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana said.
Sultana stressed that the lack of enforcement also goes against the legal obligations of Malta as an EU member state.
“The Prime Minister should immediately condemn what has happened. The least he could do is to suspend the opening of the hunting season till after 15th October to safeguard the migration of protected species like raptors and herons,” Sultana said.
“This needs to be supported by law enforcement units present in the countryside to monitor those who are still willing to break the law. The hunters have proven once again that they have taken the Government hostage.”
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