News 01/09/2002

Killing of Greater Flamingos in Gozo

By Mario Schembri Wismayer

Birdlife, Malta are incensed at the impunity with which hunters were able to kill several herons and a flamingo in Gozo. The herons and flamingos are protected birds, they were also shot in the closed season. According to them, law enforcement is non existent in Gozo, when it came to protecting bird species.

Ironically, however, one positive outcome of these incidences, where large protected birds are slaughtered in front of many eye witnesses is that awareness to the problem has become heightened. "Many more people are phoning in to report illegal hunting activity and to ask why such slaughter is being allowed to continue," commented Ms Desire Falzon, chairperson of Birdlife, Malta when contacted by MaltaToday. "Irrespective of the season, hunting starts with migration. However, either because of the EU chapter that addresses hunting, or because we are finally starting to reap the benefits of educational campaigns that started in the eighties, people seem to be taking a greater interest in what’s happening to our birds."

"Unfortunately, the Administrative Law Enforcement is under staffed and under equipped. The men on this force are very dedicated and feel the frustration of not being able to be there when it matters most. What this country needs is a permanently strong environment police, properly staffed and equipped to be in a position to tackle the problem."

Desiree Falzon went on to say that "The imminent autumn migrations will bring thousands of birds of many different species over Malta and even though Maltese hunters can only shoot at 21 of them, left to their own devices, they will ignore any restrictions."

"This issue is very important and politicians need to be very sensitive about it. They need to work together towards a permanent, working solution. Outside the hunting lobby, most people are against hunting and this should be kept in mind. Even though we are morally against hunting, we are not all out for its abolition. Hunting has become something of anachronism. It is a violent sport which harks back to more primitive days when people were bloodthirsty. Most people today seek gentler ways of recreating themselves," Ms Falzon concluded.