Police seize birds from illegal trapping site in Gozo

Police confiscate sandpipers from illegal trapping site in Gozo, release them back into the wild at the Ghadira Nature Reserve 

One of the sandpipers confiscated by police. Photo: Anders Gray - BirdLife Malta
One of the sandpipers confiscated by police. Photo: Anders Gray - BirdLife Malta

Police have confiscated two sandpipers from an illegal trapping site in Gozo, after acting off a tip from the Committee Against Bird Slaughter eNGO. BirdLife Malta said in a statement that the police took the waders to Malta to release them back into the wild at the Ghadira Nature Reserve on Saturday.

“At this time of year, wader species who have completed their breeding season start their long migration south from Northern Europe,” BirdLife said. “Quite a number of species migrate through the Maltese Islands, making the most of the coastal areas to refuel and rest. Unfortunately these birds are also the target of illegal trapping sites that utilise water ponds, nets and electronic calls to catch these species.”