Hunters report vandalism on Victoria Lines

Richard Cachia Zammit

May 5th 2008, 12:43

Spagnol, the Maltese people don't need Birdlife to give them evidence of illegal hunting here in Malta, they experience it every day. And stop this reference to the Turtle Dove being classified as 'least concerned' species. That classification is given to its global status that is world wide. In Europe, and that's what effects us here in Malta, the Turtle Dove is showing a decline. If you really want to maintain this tradition, it's about time you started considering the future of the Turtle Dove. That is what conservation and even sustainable hunting is all about.

R.Spagnol

May 4th 2008, 22:04

Mr.Cachia Zammit and those supporting his arguments in favour of the Maltese alien Birdlife should consider the following facts seriously. They might change their attitude immediately.

This is because Birdlife Malta together with its invited foreigner are insulting the Maltese people not only by mentioning them as "gullible public" but also by giving them misinformation about turtle doves and quails. Obviously this is according to their plan of distributing hatred and condemnation. As a matter of fact Birdlife Malta is presenting the two species as treathened ones. On the other hand, Birdlife International and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies them both as 'least concerned' species. This is an obvious contradiction that even by the common sense of Mr.Watson, it would committ these so-called "environmentalists" as serious liars and misinterpretors.

There is another point where Birdlife Malta is caught red-handed distributing false data which do not even comply with that stated by their invited friends of the Bird Slaughter. The "local" one mentions a certain sum of illegal actions regarding hunting and trapping while the other gets beyond the same figure by more than other 100 illegalities. And lets not mention the photos published by the latter showing trapped birds in Malta, birds of the type who were never recorded to have been witnessed on the rocks of Malta!!! The same merit goes for another website which exhibited Cypriot dead birds and claimed to be caught in Malta. Their rush to damage hunters made them leave out the true caption of the photo which said: "DEAD BLACK CAPS IN CYPRUS".

Facts talk alone............

I Grech

May 4th 2008, 09:24

I think I know who did it: a bird which is now free to fly and land and walk on the islands without fear of being shot at. 'You land is ours now'. Elementary my dear Watson.

Richard Cachia Zammit

May 3rd 2008, 20:33

R Spagnol, various hunters have added comments on this site throughout the whole spring issue and some of them, although I don't agree with them, I've come to respect. But reading what you said about bird ringers leaving their mist nets for months, I'm afraid either you or your friend are not telling the truth. Saying such things only diminishes the credibility of your fellow hunter friends. Now I know exactly who is the Birdlie.

JOHN SCERRI

May 3rd 2008, 20:23

DISGUSTING - THE COWARD WHO DID THIS IS NOTHING BUT A STUPID IGNORANT IDIOT.

George Curmi

May 3rd 2008, 13:45

Who is willing to bet that this latest atrocity is actually the work of some misguided "hunters"? Why would the true conservationists, in their moment of glory, do anything this stupid to alienate the public? To me, this smells like a red herring. It would not surprise me at all that this is the work of disgruntled "hunters" now suffering from withdrawal symptoms having had their spring hunting season scrubbed. You know how it works. Commit a crime to make it look like someone else did it in order to discredit them - it's called "planting evidence". There is no doubt in my mind that there are "hunters" who will stoop to anything to be able to continue with their "delizzju" and "passatemp" of killing anything that flies around the Maltese Islands.
Heck, "hunters" want the Maltese public to believe that it was Birdlife people who burned their own cars to gain sympathy for their cause. Now they want us to believe that Birdlife or some other conservation group perpetrated this "vile attempt to undermine Maltese culture and in particular legal and traditional hunting and trapping in Malta and Gozo." Give us a break will you? These "hunters" need to consider looking for another, more constructive way pass the time.

R.Spagnol

May 3rd 2008, 12:55

First of all I wish to thank Mr.Gouder for making my one basic point clear, short and sweet. For those who asked why did only FKNK reported these obscene acts the answer is very simple. The fact that Birdlife and all the bella compania always prompted themselves as victims of hunters' vandalism it seemed for FKNK that it was their turn. If one of the many usual cases reported from Birdlies was to appear here, lots of you would simply reply by offending hunters. Apparently now you're hesitating to condemn such acts from the behalf of some group of anti-hunting people! It confirms the fact that some Maltese "patriots" are performing this smutty-strategy for the sole reason of hating hunters. And I wish, now for so long, to meet a hate-hunters person who would not be a coward and explain to me the reason for all this hatred.

Jason Borg should add to his reply the fact that those type of mist nets set up by trappers he mentioned are illegal and therefore I am totally against them. Rather than the explanation you give, I invite you to talk to some friends of mine from Rabat who may tell you how such nets were left behind even for months by bird ringers.

FKNK has always played fair and did not try to destroy other third parties interested in enjoying the natural environments. As a matter of fact the Federation's objectives is to create awareness by education. From its beginning FKNK recognised hunting and trapping as all other past-times related to the environment and therefore knew that law enforcement would not be enough. It has worked, and I afford to say that it was successful, to maintain and where possible enhance hunters' principles and ethics. You should know that hunting species in spring were reduced from 32 and so it was not that so much easy for the federation to accomplish its mission to make hunters' conscious of their critical conditions of their hobbies. It has also performed sufficient self-regulation campaigns which were supposed to be aided by other NGO's and the governments itself. But unfortunately Birdlife was only there to boycott the professional study organised by the Goverment to finally extract the true facts about migration in Malta. Birdlies Malta preferred to keep on with their flaws of Malta being a bottleneck of the whole European migration!!!

Finally I shall remind you that all trees planted and very-well cured by hunters all year round together with foothpaths, rubble walls and pools were also present for the benefit of local birds and other flora and fauna rather than those migratory few. This was also very beneficial for picnincers, ramblers, tourists, birdwatchers, horse-riders and all those who sincerely bolster true love for nature.

Jason Borg

May 3rd 2008, 10:00

Mr. Spagnol - BirdLife's licensed ringers use mist nets and not traps for bird ringing. These are never left behind, as you stated. They are removed after each bird ringing session.

However, some trappers use the same type of nets which they spread over trees to catch any bird that tries to roost or rest in the tree. Such deadly nets are left spread over trees for many days. These are the traps which you probably referred to and are detrimental to birds. BirdLife has been instrumental in reducing this illegal practice. Will the FKNK's Action Teams do their part as well?

Damian Gouder

May 2nd 2008, 22:56

to all the sensible people around here. I am a maltese hunter, and though at this stage I am at the receiving end of this whole saga, I would like to express my satisfaction in seeing a mature and civilised conversation between pro and anti hunting. But please let's bear in mind that being a birdlover is one thing but in reality there is nothing to be proud off in being a hunter- hater.

D Camilleri

May 2nd 2008, 20:33

Why didnt FKNK organise action teams to stop illegal hunting all these years and expel hunters hunting illegally and report them to the police, ist that what conservation is all about,

Joseph Caruana

May 2nd 2008, 19:37

And how come did the FKNK noticed this incident only (to my knowledge)?
If hunters are part of the scene(the environment) I guess, they can easily report on such acts - and solve vandalism cases that are still open.

R.Spagnol

May 2nd 2008, 19:23

Joseph Caruana is playing the hilarous part again.

So you're trying to state that you don't even know about well-known hunting-related afforestation projects such as those in Boscetto, Mizieb, l-Ahrax tal-Mellieha and around all the Maltese Islands?????

Birdlife Malta has planted many trees and combined them with traps for bird ringing. The unfortunate thing is that these were left behind causing detriment to the birds' habitat. FKNK's projects are much more surveyed and well-protected. So before you just post stories try to think about them a little bit!!!

R.Spagnol

May 2nd 2008, 19:15

If may I please correct Gianluca Barbieri it would be much clearer for those reading these comments. First of all Mr.Barbieri you could not endure reading the whole reply since my argument regarded FKNK as an NGO as was also quoted by Mr.J.Caruana.

The point is that you consider the FKNK as a harmful organisation of the environment. Those like you are usually noticed to quote European examples and therfore I should remind you about the ideal relationship of the still-existing NGO's such as Birdlife International who moves hand in hand with hunters' organisations. Unluckily enough, the situation in Malta is on the contrary since we have people like you for whom all that matters is the damaging of hunters.

Those reading these replies surely feel urged to comment about your escapade from facts. Hunters have been part of the countryside from ancient times and therefore it would be impossible to even dare to eliminate them.

Yes, FKNK is one of the many organisations working for the benefit of the environment even by sustainable hunting. It is different from many more other claiming themselves as "bird-lovers" but meanwhile they work for the destruction of local cultural traditions. Your idea of such shameful organisation should be referred to as ALT - your slave foreign attributes make you Against Local Traditions.

Joseph Caruana

May 2nd 2008, 19:07

R.Spagnol, I believe a NGO defending those who harm environment cannot be a "NGO defending our environment." Is this a cry for support? So that the FKNK can appeal more to the environmentalist. It's very ironic.

I guess we all do remember what led to 1000s of tree to be planted in the last months.

Adrian Cardona

May 2nd 2008, 18:42

Steve Busuttil
I am referring to open countryside which belongs to everyone. Hunters have every right to protect their own land, no question about that, but nowhere was private land mentioned in FKNK's press release. And hunters are poachers when they kill birds which belong to no-one and to everyone, Maltese or not, so let's stop these sob-stories about 'foreign' interference...most Maltese are like their European counterparts and are against hunting, most especially when it's illegal.

Gianluca Barbieri

May 2nd 2008, 18:39

No matter how much time you waste, hunting is ethically wrong and witless. Destroying the environment for personal pleasure can never be justified. So don't try to compare vandalism and hunting. They are both wrong and they should both be condemned.

@R.Spagnol - Even the word NGO is obsolete today. The proper word is PVO. (Private Voluntary Organisations). PVO's are today recognised as legal entities so your statement regarding NGO's is unjustified.

R.Spagnol

May 2nd 2008, 18:22

Dear Joseph Caruana, since when did you become a judge dictating what a group of Maltese people should do in HIS country??

Who are you to impose what FKNK should do in order to fulfill its mission statement about conservation?

For your information, the federation had usually performed similar visits and met lots of its members both in the public and private lands. If you may know these were also filmed and shown on TV. Furthermore FKNK has in the past and hopefully would continue to organise special meeting in various hunting districts to explain issues and matters to all hunters and trappers.

I should have known that in today's world an NGO is considered as a non-expert group of people who would be first to apply from EU funds. Unfortunately FKNK is not that so much integrated and so does not benefit from any EU help to fully execute all its conservative plans. And above all how can FKNK behave like the usual NGO when its basic rights were denied from those who are supposed to push it to further conservation progress?

Thank you!

Franco Farrugia

May 2nd 2008, 18:13

OH THIS IS HILARIOUS! IT IS SOOOOO FUNNY, SO PATHETIC AND SO PUERILE.

Same sentiments as voiced by Joseph Caruana.

OH THIS IS SOOOOO PATHETIC!

steve busuttil

May 2nd 2008, 18:00

Adrian Cardona,

Are you referring to the countryside that hunters pay for? Of course they have a right to protect it, it is their property just as any person's house or swimming pool!

The annoying thing is that Maltese hunters have been depicted as poachers and this is the bad thing. I am neither a hunter nor an birdlife follower, and condemn any form of illegal hunting and vandalism. But surely these guys have demonised hunters to an unacceptable level. I also condemn the provocation taking place in the countryside, this monitoring should be taking place by the Maltese Authorities and not by Birdlife, FKNK or any individual.

Now give it a rest and put everything in perspective.

R.Spagnol

May 2nd 2008, 17:57

Finally those expressing their personal anti-hunting beliefs are showing what for long was on their mysterious agenda. For these sort of people, first in line to condemn hunters for each and every negative happening, the hunting issue was not really the love for birds but their disrespect, hatred and jealousy for the peaceful hunters who own and care for part of the Maltese land. Although the above may not fully satisfies D.Borg Cardona's question I accept his reply as very much truthful and genuine. Those photos surely confirms this fact since no hunter would be in a position to offend other hunters which like him are feeling devastated at this particular period.

The irony is that this serious act will not be given equal publicity as other similar cases which immediately were attributed to the hunting lobby. This shows us that not only hunters are capable of doing such horrible things. Therefore it is not right to condemn hunters for those acts as soon as the case is discovered. In my opinion this brings to light other cases to be further investigated. Now I surely have to wonder where are Ramblers Malta, Nature Trust and all the other NGO's whose work seems to be focused on brainwashing our children at schools.

Shame on those who did it, and shame on those who instigate it.

Joseph Caruana

May 2nd 2008, 16:18

Since when the FKNK became an NGO defending our environment?

Adrian Cardona

May 2nd 2008, 16:17

aaaaah! so now it is very easy to point the finger at bird-lovers is it? How come it was not equally easy to point the finger at hunters when temples were sprayed on, trees were torn up, road signs shot at and cars vanbdalised? What goes round comes around I guess....
I abhor any kind of vandalism, including this, but FKNK etc etc should really NOT be the ones pointing fingers at this stage.
And what kind of outings are these? I dont think we need vigilante GI Joes running around 'protecting' Maltese property from anyone! What the heck does that mean anyway?! That open countryside (Maltese property) will be protected by this lot? From whom exactly? From what? From enjoying it freely perhaps?

l borg

May 2nd 2008, 16:17

any one could have written it so do not jump to conclusions

David Borg Cardona

May 2nd 2008, 15:38

Now why is it that this always seems to be a one-way traffic situation..... when even the slightest incident happens to Birdlife, the hunters are immediatley blamed for it even though when as my good friend Mark MB pointed out that none of these were actually proved to be the work of "hunters". Yet now that graffiti insulting hunters were found sprayed on the Victoria Lines, the hunter are again being blamed ( J.Borg, A.Tabone, A.Allain et al.) for it and being accused of having perpertrated this act to gain some kind of compassion. One question comes to mind, WHY DO ALL OF YOU BEAR THIS GRUDGE AND HATRED TOWARDS HUNTERS. ? Everybody has a right to be anti-hunting as much as one has a legal right to hunt but this does not give any right to hate your fellow Maltese citizens. I could bet my last dollar that all of these anti's have either a friend, work colleague or a family member who is a hunter and/or trapper as I myself know many a person who are anti-hunting but this does not mean I carry any kind of resentment towards them. Hunting seems to be the one and only issue in this country of ours, nobody talks about anything else. And that is why a country can be considered to be democratic because everyone can express his views. But what hurts us most is that we are being comandeered by foreigners who do not care about the well being of Malta but are here only to pursue their personal agenda. Where were all these so called bird lovers a couple of years ago when spring hunting was taken in one's stride as being an integral part of Maltese tradition.Now come one bright morning and everybody wakes up only to find out that he has become a turtle dove and quail saviour. A few years ago people used to stop you and ask what your daily catch was or even ask you if you had turtle doves for the table as has happened to me personally. Now we have a nationwide crusade against turtle dove and quail hunting. Can we be more hypocritical !
Something tells me that we shall soon see the usual " I know more than thou " comment by Roman Abramovich's staunchest supporter... So wait for it coming..

j doublet

May 2nd 2008, 15:33

An act of vandalism should always be condemned....but one wonders who are the perpetrators.....conservationists are not the type of people who would resort to such acts, they know very well that they would be shooting in their feet...there are other sectors in the Maltese society who are fond of doing so.....we have seen such things in the past and the timing was the same ...when spring shooting issue was tackled in the early nineties..such signatures are almost indelible...some people still think that the Maltese public is made of fools.....

Joe Tabone-Adami

May 2nd 2008, 15:20

I can't imagine how public land anywhere in Malta was conceived to belong to FKNK in the first place!!

Matthew Bezzina

May 2nd 2008, 15:04

This is hilarious!!!!!!

Adrian Allain

May 2nd 2008, 14:13

I don't think that this puerile attempt to discredit those opposed to hunting will fool anyone.
Those opposed to hunting have too much respect for the countryside and all that that entails.
That's why they are against hunting.

Antoine Grima

May 2nd 2008, 13:47

One must also mention that this picture does not show all that was written on the walls. The rest is much worse as you can guess. I would have never thought that these so called bird lovers are capable of such foul language and vandalism . They have always given us an image of being MR/MRS NICE GUYS or saviours of our country side. Well Malta think again !!!!!!! What next ???????????? Throwing the maltese puplic out , so that our foreign friends can enjoy the millions of birds that visit our little island ???? It would not surprise me at all.

J. Borg

May 2nd 2008, 13:07

re the message ...pull the other one
re the outings....could the federation clarify what specific action was undertaken by these action teams?

anthony Tabone

May 2nd 2008, 13:03

Now who says this is not the work of Hunters? By any chance did you come across all the graffitti on practically all the signposts around the Rabat area? If not please do......

John Betts

May 2nd 2008, 13:03

"...some organizations seem to benefit from such acts."
How exactly Mr. Mifsud Bonnici?
The perpetrator of this criminal act must be someone incredibly stupid and self-centred and without any principle of conservation.

P. Tonna

May 2nd 2008, 13:00

Ah that was probably the hunters trying to get some political milage.. Ok Mr MB now we will open spring hunting because someone sprayed graffiti on the wall. Or maybe close it because some hunters destroyed all those trees up in Ghadira some time ago.

We have to use the same logic the intelligent hunters used when the birdlife's activist, car windscreen was smashed....Who knows who did this ? Maybe an ex-wife of a hunter getting at him.

harry borda

May 2nd 2008, 12:46

I think that this is pushing things a way bit too far. This latest incident is the last of some very well organized such episodes.

godfrey pisani

May 2nd 2008, 12:45

I just hope these senseless and stupid acts stop as they just shame our country. This has got nothing to do with birdlife or fknk its just people with a low mentality , i just hope the culprits are caught .

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

May 2nd 2008, 11:46

Will this act of vandalsim be given the same publicity as the vandal attack carried out on our prehistoric temples, the felling of trees at Mellieha, the oil at the Ghadira reserve.

None of these where actually proved to be the work of "hunters" yet hunters automatically got the blame.

Shame on whoever commits such cowardly acts even though some organizations seem to benefit from such acts.