[WATCH] Poachers shoot down Black Kite on its way north for breeding season

“Proof of the rampant illegal hunting taking place across Malta unfortunately is no exception but the norm,” says BirdLife CEO Mark Sultana

23 March 2021, 11:33am
by Matthew Vella

1 min read

The shot Black Kite

Black Kite shot down at Mtarfa
Early this morning a member of the public found an injured #BlackKite (Maltese name: Astun Iswed) at Mtarfa. This footage of the illegally shot bird was filmed by the member of the public who made the grim discovery. This most recent victim of another illegal hunting episode is a bird of prey which is highly protected in Europe and was heading north to its European breeding grounds. The police were called on site and collected the bird to hand it over to the MaltaGov veterinarian. BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana reacted: "Once again this is proof of the rampant illegal hunting taking place across our islands which unfortunately is not an exception but has become the norm. This is a symptom of pampered hunters and trappers that in the past years have seen all they demanded come true. Prime Minister Robert Abela has been bending over backwards in more ways than one to appease the hunting lobby, including with #trapping and #hunting derogations that will land Malta at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) once again. This video has also been sent to the Maltese Members of Parliament and Malta’s MEPs, along with the European Commission, as we desperately ask for immediate action to stop this. We call on the general public to support us by becoming BirdLife Malta members and we also request the European Union to take all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of birds migrating over Malta this spring while heading north to their breeding grounds in Europe." BirdLife Europe and Central Asia Aaron Farrugia Clint Camilleri Times of Malta MaltaToday The Malta Independent Television Malta NET News ONE.com.mt inewsmalta.com Newsbook.com.mt Lovin Malta
Posted by BirdLife Malta on Tuesday, March 23, 2021

BirdLife has reported the downing of a Black Kite, a highly protected bird of prey in Europe, while heading towards its northen breeding grounds.

The bird was shot illegally, since a prospective spring hunting season has not yet been officially declared.

The bird was reported injured at 6:50am, Tuesday morning, by a member of the public who found the Black Kite (Maltese name: Astun Iswed) at Mtarfa.

The police were called on site and collected the bird to hand it over to the government veterinarian.

“Once again this is proof of the rampant illegal hunting taking place across our islands which unfortunately is not an exception but has become the norm,” BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana said.

“This is a symptom of pampered hunters and trappers that in the past years have seen all they demanded come true. Prime Minister Robert Abela has been bending over backwards in more ways than one to appease the hunting lobby, including with trapping and hunting derogations that will land Malta at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) once again.

“This video has also been sent to the Maltese Members of Parliament and Malta’s MEPs, along with the European Commission, as we desperately ask for immediate action to stop this. We call on the general public to support us by becoming BirdLife Malta members and we also request the European Union to take all the necessary measures to ensure the safety of birds migrating over Malta this spring while heading north to their breeding grounds in Europe.”

Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...