Lm100 fine for flamingo shooting

Charlo D'Amato, 24, of Marsaxlokk, was fined Lm100 and had his shotgun confiscated after he pleaded guilty to shooting a flamingo at Marsaxlokk on September 5 last year.

D'Amato was also found guilty of being in possession of ammunition and shooting within the confines of a bird sanctuary, failing to abide by conditions of the hunting licence and using illegal heavy gauge pellets.

The court had heard the evidence of inspectors of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority who saw two flamingos settling in the bay at about 10.15 a.m. and soon after several hunters were seen approaching them stealthily.

The environment inspectors testified they started shouting out to hunters to leave the protected birds alone but the hunters persisted and shot them both.

The inspectors later learnt that another two flamingos had been shot earlier in the day as originally four birds had been seen.

Inspector Alexander Miruzzi prosecuted.