BirdLife, Opposition welcome closure of spring hunting season

BirdLife Malta today welcomed the closure of the spring hunting season by the Prime Minister following an injured shot kestrel landed in the grounds of St Edward's College in Cottonera.

 The season was due to end on Thursday 30 April and has been curtailed by three days.  BirdLife Malta Conservation Manager Nicholas Barbara said, “The closure follows a series of recorded incidents involving illegal shooting of birds beginning with the shooting of a cuckoo on the second day of the season.”

The kestrel involved in today’s incident appears to have suffered shotgun injuries which resulted in severe bleeding through its eye.

Barbara added, “We welcome the decision of the Prime Minister to close the season following this latest dramatic incident. This decision means that many other birds should safely pass through Malta in the next few days, but we are sorry that young children had to see such a magnificent bird in such a terrible state.”

Reacting to a comment by an ‘Iva’ referendum campaign activist and an FKNK representative that collective punishment was not fair, Barbara said, “Nearly 50% of Maltese voters have made it absolutely clear that they condemn spring hunting. In reaction to this, the Prime Minister has made it clear that the hunting community is on its last chance. His decision to close the season today is a sign that he is serious about this.”

The Nationalist Party said today’s incident could not be ignored. “Government has the responsibility of overseeing the enforcement of the law,” PN spokesman for hunting and trapping, Charlo Bonnici said.

Bonnici said that today’s incident wasn’t the only one and the government’s decision to close the season was “inevitable”.

The incidents that took place and that have been confirmed are:

·         Cuckoo shot on April 15th at Manikata, man fined E2,500 and claimed he mistook it for a turtle dove

·         Lapwing Shot and injured on April 16th near Hal Far, man sentenced to three months in prison

·         Injured cuckoo found in Mizieb on April 22nd

·         Teenager hit by lead pellets in Pembroke on April 24th, teenager claimed hunter slapped his face

·         CABS witness attempted shooting of kestrel close to Malta Airport on April 25th

·         CABS film hunter after curfew on April 25th

·         CABS team find cuckoo in Mizieb hidden in busheswith shotgun injuries on April 25th

·         Yellow legged gull with injuries typical of shot gun damage found on April 26th at Pembroke by member of the public

·         63 illegal bird callers detected by CABS during the hunting season

·         Injured shot kestrel lands in grounds of St Edwards School, Conspicua on April 27th