Raptor hunting condemned

The World Conference on Birds of Prey and Owls has issued two resolutions condemning the illegal hunting of raptors in Malta, Birdlife Malta said.

At the close of the conference 15 resolutions were adopted, two of which were aimed specifically at the situation of birds of prey in Malta.

Resolution seven recognises that Buskett Gardens nature reserve is a site of outstanding universal value for migrating birds of prey.

It notes that Maltese law protecting these birds is not being fully enforced in and around the reserve and urges the government to do so, as well as to nominate the site to Unesco for World Heritage Site status.

Resolution eight expresses the concern that the killing of migrating birds of prey in and surrounding Malta continues unabated on a massive scale, despite protection of these birds under Maltese and European law.

This resolution urges representative bodies of the European Union to act on their responsibilities and direct resources to ensure that the laws protecting birds, including birds of prey, in Malta be upheld and that a tourism industry be built around the migration spectacle which can be expected to sustain conservation action into the long term.