New swan spotted in St Thomas Bay, wing injured - BirdLife Malta

Injured Mute Swan

Another juvenile Mute Swan has been spotted, this time at St Thomas Bay, Marsaskala, according to BirdLife Malta.

After spending some time at St Thomas Bay, the bird reportedly flew to its current location in Birżebbuġa, and is surrounded by members of the Administrative Law Enforcement.

The NGO said that the swan seemed to form part of another flock, as the 12 Mute Swans currently sheltering in Marsalforn Valley in Gozo are all accounted for.

The swan appeared to be injured beneath its right wing (Photo: Mark Sultana/BirdLife Malta)

Authorities are currently undertaking an operation to capture the swan in order to assess the extent of its injury and to treat it accordingly (Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday)

Writing on its official Facebook page, BirdLife noted, however, that the swan was injured, pointing to bloodstains in the underpart of the right wing, close to its body.

BirdLife Malta's CEO Mark Sultana held hunters responsible, saying that “it is disheartening and a shame that once again some hunters still defy goodwill and common respect to laws and to nature and try to kill such a beauty.”

Despite being injured, the bird is still able to fly (Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday)

The swan is currently in Birzebbuga (Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday)

“Birds are indeed for everyone to enjoy and not for anyone to kill or capture egoistically," he said.

Police from the Administrative Law Enforcement Section, and volunteers from Wild Bird Rehabilitation and BirdLife Malta are currently undertaking an operation to capture the swan in order to assess the extent of its injury and to treat it accordingly.

The injured Mute Swan flies over Birzebbuga (Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday)

the swan seemed to form part of another flock (Photo: James Bianchi/MediaToday)

BirdLife Malta said that it is adamant to keep on working in collaboration with all stakeholders to eradicate illegal hunting in Malta.