Wednesday, 17th September 2008 - 14:14CET
Police seize birds worth €20,000
The Administrative Law Enforcement police have seized 75 protected wader and song birds from a greenhouse complex near Bahrija following a tip from the CABS’ operations centre.
CABS (The Committee Against Bird Slaughter formed mostly of German volunteers) said one of its teams yesterday heard unusual bird calls from a greenhouse complex in the area of the former maritime radio station at Wied Rini.The calls were clearly those of a sandpiper, not usually found near greenhouses.
"Our suspicions were aroused and we called in the ALE.”
The police arrived within15 minutes and searched the complex. They discovered a large aviary which contained almost exclusively protected species, namely 32 Little Stints (Tertuxa), 13 Wood Sandpipers (Swejda Cara), eight Common Sandpipers (Pispisella), five Little Ringed Plovers (Monakella), five Green Sandpipers (Swejda), two White Wagtails (Zakak Adjad), two Yellow Wagtails (Isfar) and one each of Red-throated Pipit (Dizz Ahmar), Dunlin (Pispisella tad-Dabra), Temminck’s Stint (Tertuxa Griza) and a Ring Ouzel (Malvzz tas-Sidra). Three other birds died before rescue.
The birds, many of which had had their wings clipped, were subsequently cared for by MEPA specialists and taken away. The raid, which continued on into the early evening yesterday, resulted in the seizure of the largest collection of living water birds yet discovered in Malta. The black market value of the confiscated birds was assessed by experts to be more than €20,000.
After a night in police custody the birds were this morning transported to the Ghadira nature reserve where they were released.
“It was great to see these maltreated creatures regain their freedom” Mr Hirschfeld said. CABS will remain on Malta until September 28 to combat illegal hunting in cooperation with the police and local conservationists.
The daily online diary, documenting the activities of the 24 voluntary activists, is at www.komitee.de/en.
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Comments
The problem with hunting in Malta is that the countryside is so limited and the population density so high (both compared to other countries) that we cannot afford to sacrifice the same countryside (let alone birds) just because some individuals cannot 'enjoy' it otherwise.
Having said this, the case uncovered by CABS does not imply that the culprit was a hunter.
I always admit when I make a mistake, so no need to make a fuss. If before today I never admitted any mistakes it was only because I was right and you were wrong LOL.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/09/13/eamalta113.xml
Mr. Muscat, I very much enjoy living in my native country. Take off your blinkers. Are you saying that hunters will soon be entering some schools? They prefer spending their time enjoying their traditional pastime in the countryside. Such things happen in certain countries these 'bird guards' come from.
MYTH:"Guns don't kill, people kill people" is a good argument against gun control.
TRUTH: This pro-gun argument makes about as much sense as claiming that "glasses don't see, eyes see" is a good argument against wearing glasses. Glasses are a tool which help people to see just as guns are a tool that help people to kill and injure others. Empirical research indicates that firearms increase the chances that a crime will turn deadly.
With regards to the current laws they cannot be very sensible if they allow a person like you such illogical ideas to carry one. Therefore they need to be changed just as the hunting is laws have been changed to curb and eventually eliminate hunting in Malta.
In any case, I' think I'll stay here, thank you very much. I already live in a country with sensible gun laws which give me the right to keep and carry a shotgun for hunting purposes. Tell you what - make us BOTH happy and pack YOUR bags and go to a gun free, lead free, hunter free, murder free, tourism-enhanced country. Australia, perhaps? Added bonus - it's very far away ;) ;) !!
Australia banned the personal posession of firearms confiscated them and destroyed them, not only did gun crime decrease but also illegal poaching of protected species.
The right to bear arms is not part of our constitution, therefore BAN THE GUN before some maniac decides to enter a school in Malta and we will then have our own Colombine to mourn over.
Nothing good has ever come out of the barrel of a gun.
May I remind you that the cold blooded murder that happened recently was perpetrated with a hunting shot gun.
Find another hobby which does not harm people, the environment, our tourist industry and pollutes our soil with lead
Or pack your bags and go to that country where one has the right to bear arms!!!
Mr Borg, these are called knee-jerk reactions. They cause more problems than they solve and they make NO sense. I note you mention "shooters", not hunters......but then, it's hunters you're against, isn't it?
Please do let us know if you have any hobbies or pastimes that are dear to you. I'd be happy to comment about them in the same vein as you and il-helu.!!
Mr. Muscat suggestion is more than valid...what's at stake by cleaning up Malta from all the firearms?
The loss to hunters of hunting with firearms is not so much of a 'sacrifice', considering the benefits of discarding all firearms.
Shooting ranges will obviously be allowed to keep audited firearms within the same premises - thus shooters can still practise their sport.
There have been shots fired at night, this is meant to be a protected nature reserve it is also an inhabited area and the shots where fired after the 3pm curfew and most probably at a protected species.
To those in power who either do not want to curb illegal hunting or do not have resources. Simple solution TOTAL BAN ON HUNTING and destroy all weapons, this will also help to reduce gun crime as we have sadly seen over the last few days.
PS - I just read my original comment again and realised that you are right as I mentioned illegal hunting at the end.....so to correct my comment, the last sentence should read “The aim of curbing wildlife crime is not to impress foreigners but to protect wildlife so I urge the authorities to take it seriously all year round”. There now that covers both my case and that of CABS.
You know very well that in my comment I am comparing the efficiency of the police in relation to two bird related illegalities, one reported by myself and one reported by foreigners. Shooting protected species and keeping protected species are both illegal. I never said anything about hunting in relation to the article.
To D. Bonello, A, Sultana and others....
What you are saying is highly incorrect, the birds in question are all regular visitors to Malta during the summer months and autumn especially.
And YES it is possible to illegally catch and lure such waders (with sound devices), using clap nets, in fact the golden plover (also a wader species) can be legally caught with nets.
Illegal trapping of waders is done and this is something that i have seen with my very own eyes in this country so please avoid saying these were smuggled or hint to something else....
This is just another case of the trapping of protected species, so just admit ii and condem it.
Also, i can't see what all this patriotism is, CABS spotted them and the ALE intervened, so congrats to both. If you ask me more people (be it maltese OR foreign) are welcome to come to Malta to observe the hunting season - after all we are meant to have nothing to hide.
As for the drugs bust at MIA, the story was released at 19.57, when most people left work and are not accessing their internet. You will see that next time you check the page maybe in the morning, the 1 comment left at the time A Formosa accessed the site has probably gone up by 2,000%
I am sure that if the 'antis' had noticed this abuse and reported it to the police instead of the CABS, you would have made the same remarks and tried to doubt all this just the same. Oh and just for your information, sandpipers don't call only when in flight. Just check that out on any good ornithological book.
Although I agree with you that all illegalies should be acted upon, yet I do not see the connection you are trying to make with illegal hunting.
I have no intention to protect anyone who break the law, but I sincerely wish to hear the reason for keeping such live birds, beacuse such birds cannot be used as decoys.
Without being sarcastic, how many anti hunting visits Bahrija? why was not the antis who noticed such abuse and reported to the ALE. Or we had to wait for the CABS to do the job.
Re the 20,000 euro figure, I cannot figure out how this 'EXPERT' arrived at this figure when there is absolutely "no interest or demand" for such species! I think they would have done better not to mention the economic issue! I'm sure the EXPERT is a member of Birdlife Malta.
today police found 3.5kilos of heroin............................no one commented
millions and millions of birds are killed by pesticides each year, so that everyone in europe can have a decent meal, (me and you too)and many find the time to comment for 75 birds, hundreds of youths could have been in danger of dying, relatives or workmates...........there are millions of birds and animals captive in european zoos but no maltese writes to release them !!!!! why!!!!!
It is not different from keeping wild animals such as lions, tigers, elephants, in a very large zoo for the people to visit and spend an afternoon.
So what's the fuss that a few birds were being bred in a green house? It is not huge but it is like a gigantic cage. Aren't birds kept in miniscule cages.
Do Germans or what are called self appointed bird protectors campaign against keeping birds in cages.
I wonder whether these foreigners are doing all this fuss and spending money just for the sake of it, or are there some financial gains that we don’t know about. Perhaps they are themselves bird trappers or hunters in wild Africa or friends of them and would not like to lose their prey.
A zoological garden for birds could even be set up by the government since there are such a number of bird lovers.
The problem is not people like you. As Daniel said such cases going unnoticed or under the blessing of someone cause a lot of damage to law abiding hunters/trappers and to Malta.
I personally have absolutely nothing against hunting within the parameters of the law, although I am a very strong critic of illegal hunting.
However, wouldn't you agree that it may be in the interest of law abiding hunters if hunting associations were to consider focusing a little less on foreigners, spies, birdlife etc and seeing what THEY can do to tackle a problem which is giving such a bad name to all hunters?
However if all the birds are clipped as the common sandpiper in the photo, they won't last long at Ghadira Nature Reserve, they have no chance with the rats. I would suggest an alternative place. Ironically, as a hunter, I think that some of the comments are insulting to Bird Life Malta - do they have to rely on foreign birdwatcher recognize the call of a wader ? I am sure this is not the case. Also if anyone wants to legally posses these birds or any other species, he can obtain them legally from a legal breeder - there are many in Germany, Belgium, etc. (and they will cost a lot less)
Very Well explained, Mr. D. Bonelllo. These are comments I enjoy reading, unlike other insultive and disrespectful ones. Not to mention also the inferiority complex certain individuals enjoy, by congratulating foreigners and not our Maltese ALE section. VERY WELL DONE MALTESE ALE PERSONNEL!!
The anti-hunting lobby's readiness to point fingers at FKNK and the Maltese hunters and trappers is to be condemned. With their line of thought, my having some fish in the freezer makes me to be a fisherman!
Mr Andrew Sammut, please note that hunting and trapping are LEGAL activities. So keep on dreaming, Sir. You will not be happy for a long, long time. The law-abiding hunters have all the right to practise their traditional pastime within the parameters of the Law.
Well I hope that these foreigners enjoy their visit & sincerely hope that their money has not been spent for nothing since the migration this year is very poor!
As for fellow law abiding hunters I would like to enjoy the hunting season within its limitations!
I sincerely respect your views regarding the subject & I understand that nothing will whatsoever ever balance this issue. However, what really torments is not that a bunch of foreigners are roaming freely in our countryside that is long as they keep to public land and do not violate my privacy (within legal means), however what preoccupies me is the number of exaggerations that come out of the people for the simple reason - to put all law abiding hunters & poachers in one bag!
During this terrible hunting season I daresay, I admired quite a number of birds of prey, herons, bea-eaters roaming in our countryside. I said 'quite' due to the fact this year's migration is really disastreous! As for turtle doves its better if I do not comment since there are a vast amount of hunters that haven't even seen one flying this year. The reason being for this poor migration are not the hunters but because of Malta's position and the lack of optimum weather.
Therefore, I HOPE that in the same way that poachers, smugglers, drug dealers are brought to justice, I HOPE that CABS will not only observe the law,
Finally a person who hunts in what appears to be a responsible manner. I wish we see the day when all hunters reason the way you do, and go along enjoying their hobby without harming the environment and tarnishing Malta's image in the process.
The article in question was not a figment of the reporters imagination. I live on this island and see first hand the amount of illegal hunting that goes on around here. I have nothing against the legal hunting of birds but when this hobby is done illegally, endangering species of birds it irritates me to say the least. It irritates me more and more when i see this splashed across a national UK paper, when we spend so much time and money trying to attract tourists to the island. As i said in my comment, i couldn't care a less as to the value of the birds found, but more about the capture of these endangered birds. What happens in other countries is also disgusting, but this does not make the situation in Malta any better...does it? Other isues such as littering, the buses and white taxis are also troublesome, as we have seen when they striked, however you would also appreciate the reaction of the Maltese when this happened! We need more tourists (and birds), we depend on them, and any action taken to safeguard the industry is commendable. Well done CABS and ALE.
Hunters, trappers, smugglers are all in the same boat insofar as they deprive birds of their freedom to fly and/or live, and my freedom (and that of other Maltese citizens who are not bloodthirsty, cruel, selfish or simply lethargic in this respect) to enjoy seeing and/or hearing them occasionally.
You might argue that I wouldn't see them or hear them anyway if they were left free (although I sincerely doubt it)...fair point, but at least I wouldn't have to stew in my helplessness at life being extinguished for other peoples' petty whims...The pro-hunting lobby argues that people like me won't be happy until all hunting/trapping is abolished.
How Very Very True!
- The birds found are not injured with gunshots
- Secondly none of those birds could have been caught in nets (mnasab) since that method only applies with finches, turtle doves, quail, plovers and song trushes. All other birds apart from the fact that is illegal to trap them cannot be lured into the nets.
Therefore, my point is that this case has nothing to do with hunting and trapping but it is a case of smuggling.
The illegality in this case is that these birds had no MEPA permit to be kept in captivity. A few months ago we've seen a private 'bird zoo' which will be open for the public in the near future. This 'zoo' hosts hundreds of birds, among them a considerable amounts of species just like the ones in this case.
So please get your facts right before commenting as if are gurus in the subject. Also, these birds (I think) have been captive for a long time unnoticed or else under the blessing of someone.
I do not know from where you came up with the idea that illegal hunting is done on a much smaller scale in Malta than Germany and England - First of all you have to compare like with like - how can you compare huge countries with several tens of millions of people with a tiny rock with just 400,000 inhabitants - That so many illeglities are carried out on such a small island is unacceptable, and most of us (including the ALE) welcome any help in exposing such illegalities, particularly when it comes from expert campaigners.
As to how much the birds cost, it is an irrelevant issue - the issue is that these are protected birds and that this is illegality on a large scale.
What do CABS have to do with a zoo. Its in Germany yes ... and they might as well not agree with it in their country. It must be a legal zoo and registered since its a public place so i guess there is nothing wrong with the zoo. Having said that the birds are kept in open spaces and not killed or shot at every day like in malta by the maltese hunters. As regard to the birds that were released from the glasshouse they didn't have any legal right to keep them 1:protected birds 2: no license or facilities to be a zoo.3: they were kept in confined spaces.
Perhaps they could also organize a “weekend zoo-school” for our children. I believe that this could be a good way of teaching our young citizens how to enjoy and protect such colourful birds. Since the zoological parks in some parts of Germany are closed between November and March, CABS might wish to arrange for some of their birds to be exhibited in Malta during such periods, including some flamingos, acrobatic doves, and a few trained owls, hawks and eagles.
Other readers might wish to take a look at some of the following links and make other constructive suggestions to CABS for their next visit.
http://www.vogelpark-irgenoed.de/index.htm
http://www.vogelpark-irgenoed.de/willkommenen.htm
http://www.vogelpark-marlow.de/enlish.htm
http://www.vogelpark-marlow.de/index_start.htm
http://www.vogelpark-heiligenkirchen.de/index.php
http://www.vogelpark-herborn.de/
http://www.tierpark-schwaigern.de/component/option,com_ponygallery/Itemid,66/func,viewcategory/catid,4/
http://www.tierpark-hellabrunn.de/index.php?id=87&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=66&tx_ttnews[backPid]=49&cHash=c2ffa5721b
http://www.tierpark-hellabrunn.de/index.php?id=87&tx_ttnews[pointer]=1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=14&tx_ttnews[backPid]=49&cHash=c9048a37b7
http://www.tierpark-hellabrunn.de/index.php?id=49
http://www.deutsche-tierparkgesellschaft.de/
Come on FKNK, do you expect us to believe that NONE of your members knew about the extent of this abuse of your hobby.
This is why you have no credibility left in Malta. No-one believes a word any of you say anymore about BLM or CABS - Bring on the Raptor Camp with haste I say.
maybe the advert was good,but how real was it ?? why didn't they write about the poisioning of birds of prey on their private shooting estates.
Mr Vella you're saying we jeopardise all of the work done to attract tourists in order to satisfy our illegal hobby ? how unreal to write and believe such a comment.
What about littering, illegal dumping, disaster of roads, selling of alcohol to youngsters, the rude attitude of bus drivers towards tourists, the ripping off from white taxis and the list goes on. I'm in no way justifying illegal hunting ( that is done on a much smaller scale than germany and england ) but how can one throw it all on illegal hunting, Mr Vella you got carried away and made allegations after reading the capture of 20,000 euros worth of birds (impossible to cost that much)!!!
AND HOW EXPERTS YOU ARE TO NOTICE THAT SANDPIPIER DOES NOT LIVE NEAR GLASSHOUSES
WELL DONE
BIRD LIFE IS RIGHT OF WIDE SREAD ABUSES
Well, now thanks to apologists like Mr. Formosa I've concluded that they're not only clever.. but fast too ! - Come on Mr. Formosa (and Co.) wake up, you're an insult to the collective intelligence of the Nation... now, try to pull another one, perhaps we'll smile at such stupid comments.
No wonder Lino Farrugia and his merry friends are so against having so many bird experts on the Island. Well done folks !
Yes, categorically, we need foreigners here in Malta, to check and monitor how things are going! And may they go back to wherever they come from and report about the lawlessness of our country and countryside, where mayhem and the rule of the jungle reign supreme!!!!
ALE - well done! A job truly well done. Thank you for answering the call with urgency!
On a somewhat lighter note, if I may - because this is all very, very serious!!!! - I am imagining these birds 'under police custody' during the night: behind bars, that is! hehe..... Poor things, after their ordeal, to be in custody for another night.
Once again, yes for this kind of foreign interference!!!!!!
Yes, categorically, we need foreigners here in Malta, to check and monitor how things are going! And may they go back to wherever they come from and report about the lawlessness of our country and countryside, where mayhem and the rule of the jungle reign supreme!!!!
ALE - well done! A job truly well done. Thank you for answering the call with urgency!
Well done. The points you raise are absolutely irrelevant and show an incredible amount of ignorance or brain washing on your part. The birds were being kept there, had their wings clipped and were spotted by CABS who rightly informed the police (These are the facts). Lets hope they spot more!! Whether they were spotted or heard (using high tech equipment or whatever else you want to say is also irrelevant), as is the value of the birds. For all i care they could be worth €1 each, but they are still living creatures. Finally i suggest you apply for a job as a spin doctor for the FKNK, since your comments eminate as much truth or sense as one of their press conferences!
Any idea of who is the owner of the greenhouse, if perhaps a member with regular accreditation issued by Mr.Farrugia.,
It is clearly law breakers who need to fear CABS and not law abiding hunters.
what exactly is your point? That the CABS people somehow set this up? Why don't you just come out and say what your point is? Or is it so farfetched this time that even you find it hard to utter?
Get real, and admit that this was a wrong doing by a fellow enthusiast of yours. How can you attempt to justify this???
May I ask who are these experts to estimate that the value of such birds worth 20,000 euros?
that's about 260 euros each for a Zakak, Isfar or a Dizzu. I think the drug traffickers are going to change their business.
Yesterday with that strong North Westerly wind you can hardly hear an off-road motorbike, these CABS must really have such sophisticated equipment.
Just a sarcastic question. why these birds worth so much when according to BLM millions are shot or captured in Malta.
Thumbs in suspense for the Courts of Justice....
All fingers pointing towards the immediate need of a proper CCTV at Ghadira Nature Reserve, to avoid you know what.....
". . .it's very sad and undignified that we have to have these German activists assisting the police and local conservationists. "
It's not undignified at all. These people are not criticising Malta (at least this time) but doing something practical and useful. We must not reason in terms of 'locals' and 'foreigners'; all enviornmentalists have the same aims and nationality does not matter.
The first is that I cannot really fathom why these birds have been kept in a greenhouse and have their wings clipped! How cruel and foolish is this? How can one enjoy to see such birds caged?
The second comment is that it's very sad and undignified that we have to have these German activists assisting the police and local conservationists.