VIDEO: Rare stork shot down
CABS birdwatchers said today that they had recorded the shooting down yesterday of a Black Stork beneath the high ground of the Dwerja Lines.
"The Black Stork is strictly protected throughout Europe and is only rarely observed migrating over Malta. The rare bird flew in from the west at 7 pm shortly before dusk towards Mosta between Zebbiegh and the Dwerja Lines," the German-based CABS committee said.
It said the bird was hit and fell out of the sky. Later an unknown person was seen collecting the bird and a metallic green pick-up was seen driving away from the scene. The video sequence, and other information which may help in identifying the poacher were handed over to the police.
Extract of video footage provided by CABS.
156 Comments
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stephen Baldacchino
Oct 3rd 2008, 12:55
My god, dont let children watch that link please. it's horendous. Believe me we are not even close to that situation here in Malta. That is realy a masacure. i nearly cried. Dont compare Malta to those animals in asia
Karl Abela
Oct 2nd 2008, 00:14
Malta is rapidly earning a reputation similar to that of Japan with the brutal mass killings of Dolphins....and then we spend all that money to promote our Island....why do we even bother?
Paste the below in your browser.... you will hate Japan for this.
www.glumbert.com/media/dolphin
joe cachia
Sep 30th 2008, 17:17
we need a referendum to close the hunting season. I am sure 85 per sent of the maltese willfavour it.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 26th 2008, 18:07
Deviate? the subject is illegal hunting....
I am pointing out that as regards illegal trapping, high ranking officials of the FKNK have been fined for illegalities regarding trapping....
Now, why is it so hard to state that this official cannot certainly lead by example?
Something here is very very strange...
debbie bugeja
Sep 26th 2008, 13:30
Dear Mr Leach
although I condemm what is happening regarding irresponsible hunters who are doing these vicious acts here in Malta, I don t agree the way you are reasoning things with regards to ban tourism from Malta.
If people were to reason like you do maybe then they would stop coming to the UK as you have a high rate of teenage knife stabbing, sex abuse or domestic abuse and murders even done by minors. So every country has something to be ashamed of.
I agree though that our government should ban hunting altogether as it is cruelty to animals.
Your government should do the same that is not allowing fox hunting as your Royal Highness Charles do.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 26th 2008, 08:59
Mr. Jeremy J. Camilleri, do not try to deviate from the subject matter. Are you ready to show readers and myself whether you are an educated gentleman or someone worse than an illegal hunter?!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 25th 2008, 22:13
Yes yes Sylvana Zarb Darmanin..lets go around in circles....
She can't answer a question can she??LOL
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 25th 2008, 21:47
Mr. Jeremy J. Camilleri, true gentlemen and educated individuals who unjusticely accuse someone of not saying the truth are responsible enough to make an apology. If this is not fortthcoming then you must indeed be worse than the illegal hunter!!
C Fenech
Sep 25th 2008, 20:55
Unless the hunting season is CLOSED completely, hunters will keep abusing.
Most people do not know the difference between a Quail or a Black Stork and hunters abuse of that fact. They go ahead and shoot, because they are incapable of controlling themselves. So, if a hunter is out during a legal hunting season and a prize goes his way, two things go through his mind..... most people have no idea what I'm shooting at, and, I'm allowed to shoot. And we're back to square one.
BAN HUNTING COMPLETELY
Mario Ciappara
Sep 25th 2008, 14:07
@Steven Leach
Do you really live in the UK?! Are you aware that thousands of birds of prey (most of them rare and nearing extinction) are reported poisoned or shot down each year, not mentioning others which are not reported, considering the vast amounts of land in the UK compared to those of Malta? Are you aware of other illegal hunting in your country like fox hunting? Or are those not respectable creatures? Maybe if you take a look around you and do your research well (even on the net) you have enough material to fill up your newspaper for the whole year!
I condemn illegal hunting and killing of these birds/creatures anywhere. However statements like yours are disgusting. Nothing to be proud of Mr. Leach!
@ CABS
I wonder how you manage to capture these incidents without managing to get/capture on tape the culprit considering the small distances on the Maltese islands? This is not the first time that this happened if I am not mistaken. If you come here just to witness the killing and damaging Malta's reputation without actually contributing to stop these illegalities then you should have stayed in your country!
I.Cilia
Sep 25th 2008, 13:38
@Mr Leach
If everyone reasoned things out like you then no one would travel to the UK because children in UK have murdered other children....
or to Austria because a father imprisoned his daughter and his granchildren for a long time in a basement of his house
or to Thailand since the traffic children for sex purposes..
what a stupid attitude if i may say so....
Anyway you have the right to your opnion so here is mine please stay out of Malta because with such stupid reasoning I do not think that we would want you in here anyway...
Thanks you
debbie bugeja
Sep 25th 2008, 12:30
Whetther its a stork or an oridinary quail, it is still a shame to kill animals out of joy
Ban hunting
Shaun Camilleri
Sep 25th 2008, 11:38
Why is not this barbaric activity banned? What is the pleasure in shoting birds with thousands of pellets? Why don't these Barbarians practice on targets and then can maybe go to the olypics and compete there for a medal rather than kill inocent living beings.
Also what is this joke? Why is their association called 'The Organisation of shooter, trappers and, CONSERVATIONISTS'? The only thing they want to conserve is their blood thirsty and selfish activity.
In the past people and politicians thought they could make or break an election but they were proved wrong. Ban this organisation and its activities once and for all.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 25th 2008, 11:09
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin:
If you are of the opinion that you should leave certain thing to readers, fine...judging by most correspondents, illegal hunting in Malta is the hunter's norm.
As for the apology, I do not have to apologise to you...since I have not stated that you were involved in illegalities.
However, as regards my first statement, I must admit that I have accused Mr.Lino Farrugia of the wrong crime, and for that, I do apologise to mr.Farrugia.
Mr Farrugia was, of course guilty of another crime, that of assisting and ENCOURAGING others to commit crimes.
As such, my argument still stands.
Are these the people who want us to believe that they condemn illegalities? WHo do they want to fool..Now Ms. Zarb Darmanin..do you condemn Lino Farrugia? or do you agree with his attitude? Do you agree that this person is still a high ranking official within KNK?
I was a gentleman...now lets see how fair you are....
Andrew Gatt
Sep 25th 2008, 11:02
Isn't it significant that most of the blatant abuses and poaching incidents of the last week of so happened in the afternoon? when the season is closed? when myself and most other hunters are at home? Bans solve nothing. They simply mean that the law -abiding hunters continue to obey and that the poachers continue to poach - freely and unhindered.
Sandro Galea
Sep 25th 2008, 08:48
I really hope that CABS also filmed the person who shot this bird and that they handed same to the police for prosecution. Otherwise, their exercise is a useless one.
D. Xuereb
Sep 24th 2008, 22:58
@ Andrew Gatt and to other hunters.
It shall be in the "Good faithed" hunters who shall help reporting these silly acting Ï'm the law" pretenders...It's in your OWN interest that hunting isn't banned once and for all yet FKNK keep on protecting them... What for?!? Don't you know that your favourite passtime is hung by a thread with all these EU directives, citizen's opinion and what's not?! LEGAL hunting shall be protected, but only that which is sustainable.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 24th 2008, 18:57
Mr. Jeremy J. Camilleri, accusing somebody that she is not saying the truth when you denied what you had actually written SURELY deserves an apology!! One of the readers has already judged you and many more will judge you now by your arrogant reply. Is this the stuff certain individuals from the anti-hunting lobby are made of? Let us see whether others from your side will disassociate themselves from you!!!
BAN ANTI-HUNTING LOBBYISTS AS THERE ARE IRRESPONSIBLE ONES AMONGST THEM!! Does this ring a bell somewhere?!
I leave it to readers to decide whether you are a Gentleman or not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where is Mr. Kenneth Cassar's apology? Most of the above applies to you as well!
edward seychell
Sep 24th 2008, 18:50
rare stork shot down? = made in malta .
Kenneth Cassar
Sep 24th 2008, 18:15
@ luisa abela:
The answer to your question is simple. The question most EU beurocrats ask is "what's in it for me?"
C Mallia
Sep 24th 2008, 18:11
@luisa abela
And a voice there is in the highest levels in the institutions, even if other EU states are taking our illegal immigration issues for a ride. Just today Simon Busuttil moved 30 amendments which should help in this issue. But then do not confuse issues and do not prioritize them either. They both are damaging our country very badly and both have to be eventually sorted out politically
Michael Vella
Sep 24th 2008, 18:10
@ Mr. Steven Leach
To be honest i am surprised by your conribution. How can you judge a country based on the actions of a few? Perhaps what surprises me more, is having lived London, i have witnessed much worse. Has this stopped me visiting London? Has this encouraged me to write against London in the press? The answer to the above is an obvious no. However, when dealing with the issues of London, i could hardly say that all Londoners are criminals, simply because you have an issue with knife crime or because it is hardly safe to walk the streets at night alone. The problem exists and is one that needs to be overcome. I am against hunting illegal birds, but also against fox hunting for that matter, yet you make no mention of the latter in your article. Should i encourage people not to visit the UK because of the above? See the big picture mate!
I can only suggest Mr. Leach that you don't judge a book by its cover and if you want to get all these bad things in the world to stop, best place to start is right outside your own doorstep!
Loïc Le Brun
Sep 24th 2008, 17:59
Could someone answer to my question please? Is the PM in charge of hunting?
May I ask who is the minister in charge of hunting? It certainly would be interesting to know his/her position regarding this issue. In France, my country of origin, hunters represent a very strong political lobby as it is estimated that at least 10% of the population is hunting or has a direct member of the family which is a hunter (it means roughly 6 m people).
Unfortunately, there are lots of abuses in France as well but , in general, the law is respected, mainly through education and self-regulation. In order to avoid controversies, hunters normally "watch" at what some other unscrupulous ones could do and tell them off. They also very easily can lose their license and are heavily fined and/or are sentenced to jail terms.
What surprises me is that many Maltese (and rightly so) find it annoying that foreigners interfere in domestic problems/discussions (not only related to illegal hunting). On the other hand, it seems that in Malta, things don't easily change without external pressure from NGO's, the European Commission...
I wish I am wrong...
Andrew Gatt
Sep 24th 2008, 17:56
@ Steven Leach........Are you aware of what goes on in YOUR country? Big 'ole Britain derogates from the Birds Directive left right and centre, shoots 365/24/7, has more than it's fair share of atrocities (golden eagles poisoned, raptors shot, swans massacred etc etc), legally shoots 23 MILLION game birds a year, has had a 40% increase in wildlife crime LAST YEAR.......! Sorry, you're either living in another dimension or you're being hypocritical. Sort your country out before you condemn mine. Glasshouses and stones, pots and kettles, Mr Leach!.
luisa abela
Sep 24th 2008, 17:45
They do have something common :-) all migrating! Listen,i hate hunting and i`am against it, and it`s true our government should do much more to stop hunting, but why is it other EU countries doesn`t calculate our plea on another hot issue? I agree that the protection of birds,especially rare, should be protected, but i also believe that the protection of a small nation like us,should be given priority in the EU. I think we should have a better voice than birds!
Joseph Schembri
Sep 24th 2008, 17:26
@Steven Leach: Most of us Maltese have never touched a gun let alone killed a living creature. Fox hunting I believe is practiced by la creme de la creme of your country. Nonetheless I have visited Britain and Ireland several times and always loved it. I was never on a package tour unlike many of the Brits we get here but spent considerable amounts of money enjoying your beautiful country. I even had a couple of unpleasant experiences while in Britain - but I would never dream of lumping all Brits together and calling them 'idiots'.
I hope that you will come here and see with your own eyes that the vast majority of Maltese are against hunting 'for sport' of any type. But do write to our prime minister as someone below suggested!
Andrew John
Sep 24th 2008, 17:24
Mr Leach. I doubt you'll have much success, Brits don't show any sign of abandoning Spain which has some of the most barbaric animal practices on Earth. Last night in the storm we heard a frightened kitten, by the time we had got some milk and food and looked for it it had been taken in by a maltese man and about 3 or 4 others had all done what we did and searched for it in the rain, they all offered a home for it. Don't let these idiotic hunters form your view of the Maltese as a whole.
They are wonderfully warm and caring in the majority, it's just that the government are afraid of a vocal testosterone-fuelled minority (they tend to hunt or drive the buses).
Mark Grima
Sep 24th 2008, 17:15
@ Luisa Abela. What has illegal immigration got to do with a rare stork being shot down? What has happened to your moral intuitions that allows you to get more angry at mere words, in comparison to the senseless slaughter of a wild animal?
Some people who blog on this site need to learn to be a little less sensitive to criticism about Malta. Always dragging the issues of abortion, divorce, and illegal immigration into every debate under the sun demonstrates an embarrassing lack of maturity.
Lynda Thatcher
Sep 24th 2008, 17:08
We should all stand together on this one no matter which country we are from. The slaughter of birds for so called sport is wrong. We need to educate people on conservation so that the future generation can enjoy the beauty and wonder of this earth. The Maltese Government needs to be firm and carry out the wishes of the majority of its citizens who seem to be very ashamed of what happens here every year. Let us join together in this and all condemn these illegal hunters not just in Malta but all countries that participate in this so called sport.
luisa abela
Sep 24th 2008, 16:55
Hi Mr Steven Leach, i am 100% against bird killing and hunting, but honestly your comment made me more angry than the illegal killing itself! Why is it that Malta was given nearly a full page coverage, in one of your national newspapers about this case? Why Malta is never mentioned on how many illegal immigrants arrive to our shores? Can you please write on your "national newspaper" what a burden all these illegal immigrants are causing our little Island!!
Mark Grima
Sep 24th 2008, 16:52
@ Anthony Cassar. You are being unfair to Steven Leach. Teenagers stabbing other teenagers is not an anachronistic pastime, fiercely guarded by a bullying minority, aided and abetted by a pusillanimous government.
@ Steven Leach. I respect your right to protest in this way but wish to express my disappointment at your decision. Please be assured that the vast majority of people in this country deplore what is going on at both the level of the government and the level of some individual hunters. Can I ask that you at least publicise your boycott by e-mailing the Prime Minister with your concerns (lawrence.gonzi@gov.mt)? This type of pressure may eventually bear fruit.
Diana Posey
Sep 24th 2008, 16:38
@ Steven Leach
Well done Sir. I agree exactly to all that you said. Something needs to be done to stop this senseless killings. That`s what the Maltese Government needs - tourists stop coming to Malta because of illegal hunting and other animal abuses and issues.
I am so glad the story made it to England on the newspaper. The news needs to be spread out of the island. the Maltese politicians needs to respect more the lives of animals instead of worrying about the votes that it is going to lose in the next elections. Gonzi stand up.
anthony cassar
Sep 24th 2008, 15:26
@ steven leach
yes ok don't come to malta , instead spend your money in your country to finance the education of teenagers that are stabbing each other to death.
what has illegal hunting got to do with tourism ?
if you put it this way you should stay at home staring at the wall because there isn't a country in the world where everything or everyone is law abiding.......or maybe London is perfect ?
Steven Leach
Sep 24th 2008, 15:01
I live in London (UK) and this story was given nearly a full page in one of the national newspapers, here in England
It stated how Malta has one the worst record in the whole of Europe for the gunning down of migratory birds, with tens of thousands of them being senselessly gunned out of the skies, by the bored fools that live on your island.
I was going to visit Malta on holiday next year, but will no longer do so.
I will instead hit Malta where it hurts most by holding on to my money, instead of giving to the idiots that live in Malta, who invariably go out to buy new shiny guns, to commit more maiming and slaughter.
I will also do my damndest to highlight Malta's problem, by writing news articles for the local London press and also on the web.
The only way to get your government to put a stop to this idiocy to stop the tourists coming to Malta and I will personally go out of my way to make sure that millions of UK tourists do not step on to any flights to Malta next year.
Ray Gatt
Sep 24th 2008, 14:21
@ J Farrugia - What did the birds do to deserve the death penaly. Shooting is senseless, killing is senseless and hunting and trapping are cowardly acts against unprotected creatures. STOP THEM ALL NOW. I VOTE NO FOR SHOOTIN AND KILLING.
@ Mark Mifsud Bonnici - I agree with you 100%, LEAVE THE INNOCENT BE. You could not have put it better. Thank you.
@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin - No, baby killing, murder and whatever ends a life is not right. I suggest that if you have witnessed any of the above, you report them to the authorities. But then for you it's fine to coldbloodiedly shoot down a bird. And your beloved hunters do it in the name of SPORT.
@ I Cilia - the cabs do the same in their countries. Unfortunately, we need some of them here since ALE are hopeless.
A Mizzi
Sep 24th 2008, 14:01
Messrs Cassar and Camilleri, I think Ms. Zarb Adami has just amply proved that Mr. Camilleri did in fact state that a high ranking official was fined for illegal trapping. So Mr Camilleri cannot really deny accusing now can he? I would give her the apology she deserves.
Gavin Attard
Sep 24th 2008, 12:10
Take away their guns too!
They want to act like children - so they should be treated.
Austen Lennon
Sep 24th 2008, 11:47
Malta is walking a tightrope. You can be sure that this will be front page news in some European countries. Do something before some prominent figure in one of these countries starts taking about setting up a campaign to encourage people not to visit Malta. This would be very wrong but it could happen.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 24th 2008, 10:55
MR. KENNETH CASSAR and MR. JEREMY J. CAMILLERI, this shows how truthful you are!! The following has been posted by Mr. Jeremy J. Camilleri on 20.09.08 (readers can see for themselves):-
"Now, with the hunter's continually shooting themselves in the foot, even to the point of having a high ranking official fined for illegal trapping(sylvia Zarb Darmanin was too busy counting fingers to note), I shall just sit back and enjoy the music."
Do you think you are able to read the above? If you are true gentlemen - APOLOGISE!!!!!
Peter Xuereb
Sep 24th 2008, 10:40
Why kill animals? Especially such beautiful ones. Since we no longer hunt for food, then it is clearly just for the fun of it! Shame on all those who carry out this barbaric activity.
Ban hunting altogether. The vast majority of us don't want (and have never wanted) it. All over Malta, hunters have taken over public land - often the most beautiful spots - and put up signs to keep out. Why have they more rights than the rest of us? Because they walk around bearing arms?
And who enjoys being threatened and chased off public land? Not me...
Joseph Galea
Sep 24th 2008, 10:38
The hysterical comments on this topic clearly show the strong feelings of most people about it. It is unfortunate that some, like Stephen Baldacchino, appear to argue that there is more killing of birds in such places as Cyprus and France. Maybe there is, but does it make the local situation any better?
Those who persist in shooting down anything that flies, protected or not, should never be in possession of a licence to carry a firearm. The FKNK pays lip service to the matter by stating that they condemn 'illegal' hunting. However, have they ever reported anyone of this crime? As we say in Malta: "Malta zghira u n-nies maghrufa!" Yet, in the even smaller Maltese hunting community it appears that the Federation is unaware of who the bad apples are. If the FKNK helps bring to justice some of these 'bad apples' it will acquire some credibility and might just stem the rising tide of demands to ban hunting once and for all. Although, personally I would not shed a tear if all hunting is banned, I do appreciate that there are responsible people out there who have this "delizju.".
S. Cremona
Sep 24th 2008, 10:13
Hunting should be banned altogether!
Malta would be a better and more beautiful place should we have migratory birds flying past the island for all to enjoy.
K Chircop
Sep 24th 2008, 08:02
@C. Abela
How could you possibly recognize the bird from this video? All that can be seen is a black patch falling out of the sky...
Kenneth Cassar
Sep 24th 2008, 08:00
@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin:
Your obsession with me is evident from the fact that you attack me personally when I had not even commented yet on this news item.
However, since you could not keep your urge to "shoot the messenger" (excuse the pun) in check, let me explain the absurdity of your accusation.
The whole issue you mention stems from a post (elsewhere) from Jeremy J Camilleri, where he claimed (correctly) that Lino Farrugia was prosecuted and found guilty of illegalities.
You, in turn, called him a liar because Lino Farrugia was not found guilty of illegal hunting and trapping (which is also true). However, you will find that Jeremy J Camilleri never said he was. He only mentioned illegalities. Inciting others to break the law and personally disobeying police orders are both illegalities.
I only pointed out this simple fact. I won't apologize for saying the truth.
Regarding my (and Jeremy J Camilleri's) claim that Lino Farrugia was found guilty of illegalities, if, despite the evidence, you still think this is untrue, I challenge you to sue us in court. I would love to see the Magistrate telling you off for wasting the time of the Law Courts.
Martin Galea De Giovanni
Sep 23rd 2008, 23:45
It is said that caves in Gibraltar may have been among the very last places Neanderthals lived before they became extinct....
... New evidence now shows that they simply migrated to the Maltese Islands, where they lived happily ever after ...
anthony cassar
Sep 23rd 2008, 23:41
first of all i condemn the killing of any protected bird be it a swallow or a golden eagle.
secondly the shot bird seems to be a bit small to be a stork (it is 1 meter tall and has a wingspan of about 1.8 meters), anyway there is no sense in asking the government to ban hunting because this bird was shot at 7pm when there is a ban on hunting. what should the government do cal all those possesing a shotgun to report at their nearest police station ?
there should be more law enforcement and less talk.
J. Borg
Sep 23rd 2008, 23:31
A ban on hunting - and better still curtailment of firearms - will automatically expose anyone so sick as to still blast his firearm.
Moreover the current underlying cost of the "delicatessen" sought by hunters ('law abiding'), makes hunting too expensive for society to tolerate any longer.
'Law abiding' hunters had the chance over the last decade to eradicate the sick minds in their mist but year in year out the chose to turn a blind eye.
Funny why some hunters - professing to be 'law abiding' are claiming that they are returning home in the afternoon.....is this all just about killing (unprotected) birds - just try enjoying the countryside without your shotguns, and watch a bird in flight.
Dr. Gonzi can you live up to your responsibilities please!
Jennifer Cosaitis
Sep 23rd 2008, 23:20
Tal-misthija..
Michael Vella
Sep 23rd 2008, 22:58
Ms. Zarb Darmanin, unfortunately you either choose to not understand me or else you have a problem understanding. What i said was that i am AGAINST illegal hunting period. I also say however, that should illegal hunting continue, then unfortunately ALL hunters are going to have to pay the price as only then will those 'untouchables' as they have recently been labelled, who continue to shoot protected species cease to do so. Do i think it is fair on the law abiding hunter, no. Do i think it will stop ALL illegal hunting, no. I do however feel that it will encourage these law abiding hunters (angry at the ban) to step forward and report these so called untouchables, as they are ruining the reputation of ALL hunters. Problem is i doubt this will happen, simply because of people like you who first condemn illegal hunting, then once the consequences have been meted out, turn around and direct your anger at the wrong people, i.e. CABS, Birdlife, Govt's broken promises etc.
The above is a clarification of my point which will now possbily make an iota of sense to you, hard as it may sound.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 23rd 2008, 22:26
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin...I Denied accusing??
Are You serious? I do not deny, actually, for your benefit I SHALL once again quote:
'The court said that Mr Farrugia's presence for almost two hours at a place where nets had been put up, manifestly against the law, without him doing anything to draw attention to this violation of the law, as well as his attitude to the police, particularly when he told Mr Grech not to dismantle the nets, as ordered by the police, rendered him guilty of having assisted or encouraged Mr Grech to violate regulations.'
These are the people who are now condemning illegal shooting!
CARMEL SERRACINO-INGLOTT
Sep 23rd 2008, 22:20
I ENJOY LOOKING AT BIRDS WHETHER THEY ARE RARE OR NOT. I AM DEPRIVED OF THIS PLEASURE BECAUSE OF THE HUNTERS. THE BIRDS ARE PART OF THE ENVIROUMENT. WHOEVER DESTROYS BIRDS IS ( WHETHER IN MALTA OR NOT) TO ME A THIEF OF BIRDS; BIRDS THAT ARE NOT HIS THEREFORE NO RIGHT TO KILL THEM FROM THE SKY OR LAND. WE SHOULD START THINKING ABOUT RIGHTS FOR THE BIRDS. IF BANNING LOOKS UGLY TO SOME AT LEAST BAN NEW LICENCES AND IDENTIFY THE THOSE BREAKING THE LAW. THE ONLY CONSOLATION IS THAT WE ARE SLOWLY APPROACHING THE GOAL TO LIVE TO SEE AND WILL EVENTUALLY WATCH SISTER BIRD GLIDING IN OUR AIRSPACE AND MAYBE ENJOY A SONG OR TWO INSTEAD OF HEARING THE Hunters' shots? THIS VIDEO IS A GODSEND. THANK YOU.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 23rd 2008, 21:28
Mr. M. Vella,You say you are only against illegal hunting and in the same breath want to punish law-abiding hunters!!! What exactly is your point? It does not make an iota of sense to me.
Should a newspaper carry out a survey, I would only believe it if the aniti-hunting lobby refrains from doing what it did with regard to the Spring Hunting Online Poll by urging foreigners to vote. Besides, this should be scientific and truly representative.
As regards my final point, I urge you to read the comments posted by Mr. Kenneth Cassar and Mr. Jeremy J. Camilleri in past issues of this newspaper, where Mr. Camilleri denied accusing a member of FKNK, Mr. Cassar defending him and saying I was not saying the truth, YET THE TRUTH IS DOCUMENTED ONLINE. Once we are mentioning this case, allow me to point out that I am still awaiting apologies if this two individuals are to be considered as gentlemen!!
godfrey pisani
Sep 23rd 2008, 21:19
wow ... we have some good judges here and some good policy makers pity ,they don't give more energy to there work , i condemm any illegal shooting that takes place and will not tolerate it if i see it , we are here talking of a very few that can be controlled and caught , i can not understand how no action is being taken by the proper authorities in the nick of time ,the setup is there ???? collective punishments well that is the easiest way out to punish the law abiding hunters , the poachers well they seem to win all the time , why ? i dont know .
carmel james
Sep 23rd 2008, 20:17
BREAKING NEWS....THIS AFTERNOON A FLOCK OF 11 BLACK STORKS APPEARED OVER MALTA AND GOZO. Actually they were 12 over gozo but 11 made it to malta. It is to be seen how many manage to roost in the Buskett/Girgenti area.
And for all the doubters about yesterdays Stork IT WAS A BLACK STORK. So stop this nonsense of doubting everything that doesnt sound right for you. Illegal shooting is still going on and will always be. It doesnt reflect well on the hunting group to always doubt the facts.
C. Abela
Sep 23rd 2008, 19:59
THAT BIRD ITS NOT A BLACK STORK!!! Are these the CABS? Saying its a black stork? They don't even recognize a baghdan (which is killed by poison in the UK and Germany), from a Black Stork!??? Shame on their lies! unbelievable
Michael Vella
Sep 23rd 2008, 18:29
@ Ms. Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
What make people like you feel that hunting is the only item on my mind. I speak out against other serious issues in the right forum. I never however associated hunting however with abortion or murder. Two completely different topics you brought in to try and diminish the seriousness of this particular situation. Because other, more serious things happen in the world means people are not allowed to comment or get 'hysterical' about hunting?
As for the majority of Maltese being against hunting (i am only against illegal hunting) and an immediate ban of ALL hunting if illegal hunting persists, why does nobody from the pro-hunting lobby suggest a referendum on the issue. I get a feeling it is because they know what the result would be. This is an independent website, and the below are just a sample of sentiments of the public. Count them yourself, however, correctly so, this is not a scientific survey. Should a national newspaper carry out a survey, would you believe the outcome? I suppose that depends on the result!
Re, your final point, i don't know the issue you are talking about so couldn't possibly comment.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 23rd 2008, 18:25
Mr. T. Borg, why do you assume that there exist only two options?! Two foundless ones for the matter!!
Mr. Mark Grima, that is the good thing about my comments. I comment without being either a hunter or a bird-watcher. Many think that only hunters defend hunting - that is not the case. As I have already stated and as far as I am aware, NO, a hunter cannot carry a shotgun after 3 p.m. The law does not give discretion to ALE officers. As for your requested total ban, I urge you to read my previous comment as well as those of others who have explained that the illegal shooting occurred during a ban (i.e. after 3.00 p.m.)
Philip Paris
Sep 23rd 2008, 18:06
If there is an after life, I hope all hunters and people who own birds and do not take care of them, come back as a birds in Malta.
joseph lia
Sep 23rd 2008, 17:57
The video footage is extremely difficult to conclude from it whether the shot bird is indeed a Black Stork, more reliable footage is necessary.
I am merely pointing out the evidence. This illegal poaching act happened allegedly at 7pm, A HUNTING BAN is in effect from 3pm onwards....from the footage one shot is delivered at the bird and it seems one person approached to collect the end result of this illegal act. According to what one may or could make out from the footage. One person who obviously broke the law and committed a crime....ONE person, ONE poacher.
What has the rest of the law abiding hunters have to be blamed for? With this evidence or proof from German and Italian speaking Bird Guards hopefully this idiot is caught and justice done....hopefully!!! The hunting season is already banned from 3pm onwards, therefore this is a single deliberate act of poaching.....catch the culprit...PERIOD.
T Mifsud
Sep 23rd 2008, 17:53
If all these FKNK advocates like Mark Mifsud Bonnici (and others who apperatently had a brieding from their association to counteract criticism) disapprove of the hunting ban with so much force, would they perhaps approve of a gun control system such as the one well described below, where all guns are stored in an armory, register their time of use, and returned daily at exact a closing time? Surely such a measure will control abuse of your colleague hunters who WANT to abuse. The FKNK wouldn't object if for example the armoury is manned by the police and audited regularly by the Ministry of the Environment.
It's the only other option to a Total Ban.
Mark Grima
Sep 23rd 2008, 17:48
@ Sylvana (the most vociferous non-hunting pro-hunter on every blog).
This is purely anecdotal but I have heard of hunters claiming they have stopped hunting at the regulation time (e.g. 3 pm) but have hung around to enjoy the sunset or are on a long walk home, or back to their car. What does the law say about these situations according to your interpretation? e.g. is it legal to have a gun in your hands a 3:00 pm but not 3:01 pm? If it is down to the discretion of ALE officers, then it is simply another confusion which supports the argument for a total ban.
Loïc Le Brun
Sep 23rd 2008, 17:48
May I ask who is the minister in charge of hunting? It certainly would be interesting to know his/her position regarding this issue. In France, my country of origin, hunters represent a very strong political lobby as it is estimated that at least 10% of the population is hunting or has a direct member of the family which is a hunter (it means roughly 6 m people).
Unfortunately, there are lots of abuses in France as well but , in general, the law is respected, mainly through education and self-regulation. In order to avoid controversies, hunters normally "watch" at what some other unscrupulous ones could do and tell them off. They also very easily can lose their license and are heavily fined and/or are sentenced to jail terms.
What surprises me is that many Maltese (and rightly so) find it annoying that foreigners interfere in domestic problems/discussions (not only related to illegal hunting). On the other hand, it seems that in Malta, things don't easily change without external pressure from NGO's, the European Commission...
I wish I am wrong...
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 23rd 2008, 17:32
Exactly, Mr. I. Abela, the way YOU see it and "it doesn't make any sense" to YOU. Clay-pigeon shooting and hunting are two completely different pastimes. It is like asking someone who loves driving a CAR to go and push a PRAM!
Mr. Mark Grima, I stand to be corrected, however, as far as I know "carrying a gun in the countryside after 3p.m. is ILLEGAL. The problem with most of the 'Online Comments' is that ill-informed individuals are making judgements and suggestions without being well-versed in the subject.
Not to mention, individuals who accuse others of not saying the truth when they themselves are not being truthful. Are there some pending apologies?!
Anthony Formosa
Sep 23rd 2008, 17:32
It was not fair that only half information was reported, that leaves many hunters who own a grenn METALLIC pick-up subjected to vandalism from the antis, if the CABS identified the type of spray they could also identified the driver very closely and the registration number.
Before we ban hunting we shall ban all driving for causing deaths on our roads, all boats for importing drugs, all football matches for causing trouble & littering, all feasts for littering and noise, all bars and pubs for causing fights and alcohol which leads to traffic accidents, all women for causing abortion, all men for not being responsible for the child, all clerigs for abusing children, all politicians for abuse of power, and so on.
Those who wish to have a referendum I say you had the chance already as hunting including spring was part of the package before accessing the EU.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 23rd 2008, 17:09
Mr. Mark Mifsud, it is not the pro-hunting lobby that is saying that a Ban is not the solution. Facts are proving this. I repeat, this illegal shooting took place during the time hunting is banned!
Mr Noel Miceli the above applies to you as well. Furthermore, have you ever heard of 'game'? This is similar to chicken, rabbits, beef, fish, etc. which the majority enjoy consuming. Law-abiding hunters shoot for game which is then eaten. It has nothing to do with dog/cock/bull fighting.
Andrew Gatt
Sep 23rd 2008, 17:04
@ Noel Miceli....what breathtaking logic! What words of wisdom! Please please pleeease tell us what YOU enjoy doing, so we can lobby to ban it too! Eating meat? Politically incorrect! Driving? Uh-uh...people die on the road! Fishing? Tsk tsk - those poor fluffy cuddly fish with hooks in their mouth! Enjoy fireworks? Nope...too dangerous! Watching DVD's? Too violent!
And so on and on and on. Whaddaya wanna ban, anyway....this incident happened when HUNTING IS BANNED in the afternoons.
Fair's fair, mhux hekk?
Mark Grima
Sep 23rd 2008, 16:55
What pleasure could anyone possible get from shooting a rare stork? On a personal note, I could say the say same for turtle doves and quail.
The comments about this incident happening after 7 pm are extremely valid. However, it only serves to emphasise that the hunting regulations in this country are, for whatever reason, unenforcible. Couple this with the rather sinister comments by the FKNK that some hunters are "protected from prosecution" and we have to admit that the regulations are simply not working (what regulations in Malta do work???). This situation presents very strong support for a total hunting ban in Malta. In a "total ban" scenario, anyone carrying a shotgun in the countryside should be a target for investigation. As things stand, carrying a gun in the countryside after 3 pm is not illegal (although using it is), hence the apparent problem for ALE.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 23rd 2008, 16:52
CFinch
You seem to read in a hurry since I said " indeed punish whoever breaks the law but leave the innocent be." which means even if one protected bird is shot or for any breach of regulations this principle should apply.
Considering you seem to agree with collective punishment, would you be willing to apply this principal to all other illegalities. Would you ban driving because of reckless drivers or fishing because of illegal fishing.
Certainly not, in your opinion it's only hunting that deserves such treatment.
Saying that collective punishment involves the whole population really shows you don't know what you are talking about.
Collective punishment is legally wrong since the punishing of a group of people for the crime of a few or even of one. is in direct contradiction to the concept of due process, where each individual receives separate treatment based on their individual circumstances as they relate to the crime in question."
Is this what you support.
I Abela
Sep 23rd 2008, 16:38
@ All Hunters (Law abiding and not) - The way I see it, hunting should be BANNED, not as a collective punishment, but simply because it doesn't make any sense. Now don't come up with the usual 'hobby' stories. You have shooting ranges to practice the hobby. Or if clay pigeons are not so thrilling, you could park your car in a safe place and shoot at it, or better still you could take your TV or computers to a field and shoot at it. At least you would be shooting your own property. SINCE BIRDS ARE NOT YOUR PROPERTY, COULD ANY HUNTER PLEASE TELL ME WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO SHOOT IT DOWN?
Robert Caruana
Sep 23rd 2008, 16:21
A Farrugia
It is an EXTRACT of the video produced by CABS (see bottom of the article) which means that there is more to it than the 17 second clip shown here
Mark Mifsud
Sep 23rd 2008, 16:15
Its not about collective punishment, its about stopping the massacre. If, as some hunters are pointing out, closing the season is not enough to stop the massacre then weapons should be deposited at police stations until the next hunting season opens. That will definitely dramatically reduce this senseless killing.
And on the subject of "proper enforcement": besides political will to do so, this also costs good money. In order for enforcement to be effective you`d need scores of officers, possibly running in the hundreds, in order to effectively monitor all Malta and Gozo. So if the hunters really want "proper enforcement" then they should be ready to pay for it themselves through greatly hiked up license fees.
Noel Miceli
Sep 23rd 2008, 16:13
To those who are saying that banning hunting is not the solution... IT IS!
Because then no one will need to own a shotgun any more and even having or carrying a shotgun will be a punishable offence.
The reason that hunting should be banned is not because some hunters shoot protected birds, but because it is barbaric and senseless to take pleasure in blasting a living creature out of the sky, just like dog-fighting, cock-fighting and bull-fighting are senseless and barbaric.
Chris Galea
Sep 23rd 2008, 16:13
@J Caruana
to be honest with you I had my doubts,seems too small for a stork,a stork with it's wingspan open is six feet long ? and it's long feet ?
Edward Farrugia
Sep 23rd 2008, 16:05
How come everyone is yelling to close the hunting season if the killing of this bird happenend at 7 in the evening during the close season? Do you want to close a season which is already closed???
Alfred Farrugia
Sep 23rd 2008, 16:02
Birdlife and CABS are harvesting the whirlwind that they have sown. Their action is counter-productive. Would it not have been better if the hunters were allowed to shoot at the normal species as in the past, instead of being cornered to shoot at “possibly” protected species? By pressuring the authorities to constrain the traditional hunting seasons (Spring and Autumn), the result is that the extremists among the hunters are seeking to satisfy their basic needs – including identity and recognition – by shooting at the first opportunity, whatever it may be.
Given the sophisticated equipment brought along by CABS, can they explain why we only have 17 seconds? Did they film a little more before the “shot” was heard? Did they film the person who collected the bird and his vehicle? Why is the video cut short? I am not a hunter, so I may be excused if the brief footage reminds me of an acrobatic dove! If it were indeed a stork, then the authorities ought to take the appropriate action if the evidence is provided. Can CABS teach some of our law-abiding hunters how to train acrobatic doves? These would make a better spectacle.
http://www.tierpark-hellabrunn.de/index.php?id=87&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=65&tx_ttnews[backPid]=49&cHash=10e875ba18
Louis Camilleri
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:56
I can assure you that no bird , protected or not can make it safely over the Maltese Islands during the hunting season. Anything that flies is shot down. Everyone has witnessed indiscriminate hunting some time or other. This video clip is pure evidence for those hunters who deny such atrocity.
I.Cilia
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:56
@ Michael Attard..
What is wrong is wrong... no one is doubting that... my point is one...
that this CABS group had better check its own backyard.... rather than going around in other countries and point fingers at others....
this bit from their web site says a lot http://www.komitee.de/en/index.php?raptors
So best that they solve their own probs first, and then they can come and solve ours...
Many famous quotes come to mind.... Whoever is pure, throw the first stone ( hope i got that right), Charity begins at home etc etc
I am saying that the government should roll up its sleeves and get cracking on this because it is true that we are becoming the laughing stock of all Europe...And having these CABS people is not helping us...
Maybe instead of blabbering about on the times blogs, we should all (that includes me as well) get out there (boot the CABS people out of here) and actually police our countryside ourselves.... It is very easy to be a couch potato believe me...
F Spiteri
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:53
Shame on all hunters. This, I am sure, is one case of so many. This time somebody actually got it on video, so this time, MAYBE, the authorities have no excuse but to find out who did this. We will hopefully read in the papers that the person responsable was caught and punished ! Or maybe not ??? After all, same as some other individuals that tried to show their force in the last months by striking and taking to the streets, hunters have a huge say in what laws should be adhered to !
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:45
Mr. P. Sultana, what quantitatve data are you after? That similar to the Spring Hunting Online Poll, when foreigners were urged to vote in a local poll?!!
Mr. Barrett, are your suggestion adopted in any other country?
To all those asking for a total ban on hunting, don't they realise that their appeal is baseless? Everyone is supposed to be aware that a ban on hunting after 3.00p.m. is already in force. YET this illegal hunting is taking place during this ban. What better proof can one have that a HUNTING BAN IS NOT THE SOLUTION!
Mr. Jeremy J. Camilleri, I would have expected you to do the decent thing and apologise while submitting your below comment!!! I AM STILL WAITING!!
jcaruana
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:40
@ Chris Galea : Well said.
@others : sorry to disapoint you all But That is NOT A STORK being shot down, It is still wrong cause it is a harrier .
I am not a hunter but banning hunting because of a few idiots is not Fair and not how things should function in a democracy otherwise by now none of you would be here.
PS: How come these Germans profesionals came equiped with such poor cameras?? That footage is very poor indeed
Chris Finch
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:25
Mark, Why should it take hundreds or thousands of dead birds to convince you that this shooting was wrong. Just one illegal act is wrong. What about all the others - and it is not just the shooting of protected species that is illegal remember, but shooting out of hours, modifying the shotguns to shoot more rounds than permitted, shooting in protected areas etc. etc. etc.
And banning all hunting until this is resolved is not collective punishment, as it is not punishing the whole population of the island. In fact it will be a VERY welcome respite to the 99.5% of the population who do not support this passtime.
Andrew Gatt
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:19
@ Franco Farrugia, Jeremy J, etc......... kindly stop your bleating and blanket accusations, will you? YOU are the other side of 2 extremes. On the one hand, we have this poacher and his pals, on the other side we have the anti-hunter/hunting brigade who gleefully post away in public at every opportunity in a bid to have legal hunting abolished.
We law-abiding hunters are caught in the middle, having our hobby slowly eroded away, while poachers still poach and whiners still whine!. Some of the anti-hunting comments and suggestions on this topic are fanatical beyond belief. And to sling mud at an entire community is unfair and unethical.
A Mizzi
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:17
The question that keeps springing to mind is but why aren't these people caught and booked? If CABS are witnessing and have time to film and count these illegalities then why can't the police do the same thing? Surely there are more ALE officers than CABS volunteers and as far as I know, ALE officers are sitting there protecting CABS so they're seeing the same things. I witnessed it myself y'day morning at 7.00 am when driving past Girgenti, CABS personnel, around 6 in all and another 4 ALE officers in 2 vehicles watching over them.
Perhaps there is an ulterior motive? Perhaps they are purposely not being booked? I find it very hard to believe that they can't get them. I condemn these senseless killings but I also condemn the fact that very very few are brought to book. One would think that they are in a position to make at least 3-5 arrests a day. Smells fishy to me.
Chris Galea
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:06
@Paul Barrett
and you think you're going to solve illegal hunting with your proposals ? and I don't think they'll bring any tears to eyes of any poachers !!
Andrew Gatt
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:05
@ Paul Barrett.........all your points have no validity regarding hunting, I'm afraid. Impractical, nonsensical, and abolitionist. What you are suggesting is to ban all hunting - legal or not - and in this I disagree with you completely.
Similar laws exist, for other types of firearms though. But that's not the issue here, is it?
A.Bonnici
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:05
How could they tell that it was a rare black stork from that view??? it could have probably been a pigeon or something common...they just came up with a black stork for all of you to be surprised..its all invented...its just a normal bird and the CABS are just saying its rare to liven up the chaos as usual...
T Mifsud
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:03
I Cilia,
If you are a law abiding hunter, if CABS are doing their utmost for protecting our birds, and if they are supplementing the vastly outnumbered ALE, what is your problem with CABS? Do you have a problem with foreigners in our country that are assisting us in stopping illegal acts?
If you do then what do you say about Maltese going to other countries to assist the governments, like our AFM in Georgia for example? Do you think we live alone, cut alone out of the rest of the world? Where do you think the stork came from? Certainly it did not come down vertically from space! It came from a foreign country, lived and grew to maturity ... that is until it approached Malta when the hunters stole its life from nature and the world.
Your words are very similar to the rest of the hunting lobby that cannot face the subject of illegal hunting other than attacking the ones trying to stop it!! A ban on hunting is now more than necessary even more because the so called 'law abiding hunters' are now attacking those stemming illegal hunting!
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 23rd 2008, 15:02
Mr. Michael Vella, no, I have never "seen a bird walk into a police station to report a hunter that shot it" BUT neither have I ever seen an UNBORn CHILD, a MURDERED HUMAN-BEING or an animal/fish killed and about to be eaten, entering a police station to report their killer!!! Therefore, your defence in favour of Mr. F. Farrugia is null and void.
Are you saying that the couple of dozen of commentators below reflect the wish of the almost 400,000 Maltese citizens?
As for your reasoning of the law-abiding hunters having "to suffer the consequences" of the law-breakers, am I to interpret this as meaning that the anti-hunting lobby has to suffer the consequences of Mr. K. Cassar's and Mr. Jeremy J. Camilleri's actions of not saying the truth misinforming the public and topping it all by saying that I was lying?!!
Chris Galea
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:57
Collective punishment is not the case,hunting was not permitted at that time of the day,so with a closed or open season that stork still would have been shot.Who wants to break the law will still do no matter what,the law abiding hunter would be punished not our cowboys !
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:53
Why am I not surprised?
Charles Vella
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:52
It's such a shame to see such a bird go down like that... and this is just one of the many which i'm sure they get hit every day! I agree with the TOTAL ban of hunting, however it's a shame li mal hazin jehel it-tajjeb! ...i'm more than SURE that there are hunters to abide by the rules and do not shoot on protected birds. The police should investigate this case and if the culprit who shot down that bird is cought they should PROSECUTE harshly AND FAST to set the example to those WHO DO NOT ABIDE BY THE RULES and hopefully these will THINK before killing these poor birds!!
Franco Farrugia
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:48
Shame on the hunters. Shame on them.
And I stand up to be counted. Shame on you all! Imisskom tisthu!
You are destroying the little natural environment that we have. For your disgusting and horrible so-called pastime!
The Government must stand up to these people and stop this hunting season!
Roderick Chetcuti
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:41
SHAME SHAME SHAME
michael fenech
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:41
I'am getting tired repeating myself,if this GOVERNMENT had any GUTS at all he will close the hunting season now.NO GUTS.
IF YOU CAN'T DO THE JOB MAKE ROOM FOR SOME ONE WHO CAN.
albert leone ganado
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:36
Let us immediately close the hunting season until the various hunting federations are able to police their errant fellow hunters.
It is the hunters community who have an interest in hunting so it is they who must create a credibile mechanism to identify and ban the abusers amongst them. Whilst the abusers may be few their identity must surely be known amongst the hunting fraternity.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:33
You call for a ban on hunting when a dozen or so birds have actually been reported killed. You also undoubtedly believe that hundreds were massacred as this is what CABS reports.
You seem to be forgetting that 16,000 people actually hunt in Malta. If shooting of protected birds where as rampant as being declared. Would the number of birds reportedly shot run in the tens, hundreds or thousands?
I leave it to your intelligence to answer.
indeed punish whoever breaks the law but leave the innocent be. This principal applies to all walks of life, Why should hunting be any different?
Adrian Cachia
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:26
Oh!! What will FKNK say now that it is video editing?? Last time they were claiming the birds came out of a freezer!!!!
Stop the hunting season now!!
Michael Attard
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:22
@I Cilia
If it takes a foreigner to do the job the maltese police force is not doing .. then those foreigners are most welcome! I don't care who points it out! When somethings wrong, ITS WRONG!
Paul Barrett
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:21
@ Andrew Gatt
You have summed it up quite well but there is a way to vastly reduce illegal hunting.
1. All guns of whatever nature to be kept in an authorised armoury (and not taken home).
2. Guns may be drawn out for a maximum of 8 hours for use only on a properly licenced range under an authorised range manager.
3. Weapons not returned to the armoury or surrendered to the Police within the 8 hour time limit will result in loss of licence and the gun confiscated and destroyed.
4. Any person found keeping a gun outside the above parameters to face a heavy fine and confiscation of the gun for destruction.
5. Any person found with a gun and ammunition for that gun outside the above parameters in a state ready to use (i.e., for a crime) to be liable to a prison sentence of not less than 3 years and if used in a crime, not less than 10 years.
That should bring a few tears to someones eyes.
All laws are enforceable if the will is there to do so.
L Debono
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:16
I can't believe it that a civilian have to monitor the countryside. We're not talking the African savannah or the rainforests of South America here. The island is not even 20 miles long. How come the police are not beefing up their patrols in country side? How many charges have they laid so far? Keeping the peace and uphold the law are obligations towards all in Malta.
My other question is - what was this knuckle head and any one poaching birds out of the sky thinking? That things are never going to catch up with them? There are simply spoiling it for every one else. This is fuel for tree huggers and it is more pressure of law abiding hunters. What is so hard with harvesting game birds only and stick to the law? Why is this so difficult don’t these people understand? These questions should be answered by the hunters’ federation.
From what I had read and heard controlling hunters in Malta is a very difficult task. Things are always out of hand with the current methods. It's a shame……..
Andrew Gatt
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:10
............oh, and by the way, YES, I would report this ANIMAL to the Police WITH PLEASURE. Unfortunately, I am banned from hunting after 3.00pm - and, along with all the other hunters who respect the laws (stupid and senseless as some are) was at home while this poacher was blasting away. Imbasta l-kastig kollettiv. Success, hej!
Harry Borda
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:04
This incident happened around 7.OO p.m. which means during closed season. So whether the government punishes all hunters as requested by CABS or not, this would have happened just the same. How right FKNK were that some people have no fear of being caught!!! The majority of hunters at that time were at home because of the stupid decision of banning almost everyone except the few that matter.;
Martin Frendo
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:04
three cheers to Andrew Gatt. quite right unless enforcement is 100 % foolproof applied , the farce will continue. but than again we live on the islands of half baked issues- or even better we adopt some foreign policy or advise to look smart - na jahh... I guess we do need to remodify our DNA's after all ( without entering into any political progeny)
Robert Caruana
Sep 23rd 2008, 14:03
Another disgrace after what we had last week
As to clamouring for closing the hunting season, it is an understandable gut reaction. However, apart from it being unfair to those who hunt always hunt legally (I honestly have no idea as to what proportion of the hunting fraternity these add up to) it will not solve the problem. This stork was shot yesterday at 7 pm. At this time of the year hunting is prohibited after 3.00 pm. Trigger happy poachers are not stopped by bans.
As to the law abiding hunters who post here, I suggest that you put pressure on your hunting associations to first of all admit to the true scale of illegal hunting and then become more pro-active in the fight against it. It is useless to spend time and resources on silly strategies that will get nowhere; sueing Cabs or attacking birdlife will not do anything for the law abiding hunters they are meant to represent.
Illegal hunting represents the real enemy of the law abiding hunter. That abolitionists may use it for their own aims is immaterial. The fact remains that the Maltese public is clearly no longer ready to tolerate such incidents.
I.Cilia
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:58
Although i deplore this shameful act and the perpatrators should be be immediately be punished, there is one thing I noticed..
In the voices in the video not one of them is Maltese.... and that is something that to me is a great anomaly... So we have foreign people roaming about in our countryside looking out for illegal acts... Now that is one hell of a joke...
I am not in any way approving of these illegal acts but having foreign people, who would do better to look in their own backyard before coming in other countries and pointing fingers at us...
First sort out your probs in your own countries and then come here to solve ours... it could also be because our government is "bla sinsla" (instead of using the correct word) and accepts that foreign national come in here and dictate what we should do...
It is a shame!!!!!
J Farrugia
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:52
One day, a person committed an atrocity, an infanticide! All the people of Malta were up in arms to kill this person and on the day of arraignment in court, almost all of malta was at the law courts shouting abuse and shouting for the death penalty to be invoked. (At that time the death penalty was in vigore in Malta). When the criminal court decided the sentence, that is the death penalty to be given to this criminal, those who went to shout for the death penalty to be invoked, started to gather a petition to save this person from the gallows. THOSE SAME PERSONS, the staunchest among them were the first to sign this petition to the Governor. And they succeeded in saving this person's life and the death penalty was withdrawn and jail was the result. These comments about the shooting of a 'rare stork', are the same as this story, and gentlemen this story is true.
P Sultana
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:50
Times of Malta, can we have an online poll on the subject of hunting ... those for and against. I would think there is no contest for the against field but let's have some quantitative data ....
D.Caruana
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:46
It just dawned on me!!!
Isn't the hunting season closed from 15:00hrs onwards?
So wasn't this person committing this illegal act while the season was closed?
So would closing the season completely solve the problem?
NO
D.Caruana
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:39
Dear M. Vella,
When I posted that comment - the video was not yet uploaded. So yes, clearly there is a downed bird and I condemn it. but please read on..........
I can't beleive it!!
With all their sophisticated equipment - this is all they could come up with.
Ok, yes the downed object clearly looks like a bird and is obviously protected. But where is the RARE STORK???
I might well be wrong.....but it does not look like a stork to me.
R Muscat
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:34
Yet more proof that the only solution is a TOTAL BAN ON HUNTING. The general public have a right to enjoy the beauty of nature not see these horrendous acts in our countryside.
Polls on this website have consistently showed that the majority do not want this yearly massacre to continue.
If the authorities have any doubts then lets have a referendum on hunting and settle the issue once and for all.
Cikku Mercieca ('Ta Pakakku')
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:33
my pregnant wife and son are very upset because both were waiting for the stork to bring the baby. Now we have to wait more.
T Mifsud
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:30
Re: Collective Punishment
Do you realise the gravity of the situation?
That black stork flying over Malta has to face from North to South AND over water, 16000 hunters (according to Mark Mifsud Bonnici). If all of them see it flying and 15999 lower their guns because they know it is illegal but 1 shoots it down, THE RESULT IS THE SAME ... a dead stork. Now everybody knows that there are more than 1 illegal hunter on land and sea.
Therefore that stork has to pass the judgement 16000 times every day it is near Malta.
With this fact in mind the Ministers responible for MTA, Environment, Policeand the Prime Minister are duly bound to protect this situation from becoming out of control. The season MUST STOP! Inaction is worse!!
D.Fenech
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:26
Closing down the hunting season is surely not the way to go. Why do the law abiding have to pay for the illegalities done by the very few. May I remind that there are around 20000 hunters in Malta. Surely not all of them are breaking the law because otherwise CABS will be reporting thousands of cases everyday and not single cases. If the hunting seasoon is closed, only the law abiding will pay, because those who don't care and continue to break the law, regardless of the hefty fines and of the consequencies of their actions will continue to break the law even with the season closed. The authorities should study a more efficient way to get the culprits and eventually bring them to court. If the government stops the hunting season, it would be like one cutting his whole arm to get rid if an aching finger.
Andrew Gatt
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:22
The same hysterical calls to ban hunting from the same hysterical people. Can you get it into your heads once and for all that banning hunting WILL NOT stop these animals? They are already blatantly breaking strict laws in full view of the ALE, the public, CABS and whatnot. Do any of you think that closing the season will mean an end to illegalities? How naive!
ENFORCEMENT is the issue. Unless Government commits to serious and consistent enforcement you can scream bird murder all you want......'cos nothing will change.
stephen baldacchino
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:06
Last week i had the pleasure to have a conversation with one of the bird watchers in buskett and he mentioned a very interesting answer to one of my questions and his words were " Illegal hunting here in Malta is nothing compared to what is going on in France Italy and Cyprus". So my question is, so why do you come to Malta instead of going to these countries?????? the difference is that here in Malta there are 1300 hunters and in these countries there are 1.3 million hunters. So think about it all of you, which countries kill the most bird and have song birds like finches fired down aswell??????? Thats a very hard question isint it.
Michael Vella
Sep 23rd 2008, 13:01
Ms. Zarb Darmanin,
When an illegal act happens against a human, that person can speak for himself and go report the incident himself. Have you ever seen a bird walk into a police station to report a hunter that shot it? Why would Mr. Farrugia need to get hysterical when one can speak up for himself. Also the police have adequate resources to deal with human issues, but nothing close to enough to monitor hunters. His request for a complete ban on hunting not only hold water, as you put it, but as you can see from the comments below, is what the majority want NOW!! Unfortunately people claiming to hunt legally are going to have to suffer the consequences of what are defined as the 'few untouchables' that are breaking the law consistently.
Michael Vella
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:56
Dear D. Caruana,
I started reading your comment, till i got to your first line : "I start by condemnig this act (If true)". Just reading the (if true) bit, put you in the same basket as your fellow illegal hunters. I did not read the rest of the comment as i am not interested in anything you could come up with after trying to instil doubt in a video of a bird falling from the sky. What more evidence do you need to see what is going on around you?
Antoine Grima
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:54
Well done CABS.I never thought i'd say this.My arguement is that you should provide solid prof of your accusations , and this time you have done.Please rid us of these poachers.I am a hunter , have been all my life , and these few arrogant and irresponsible people , if they can be called people , have made my life a misery cos i cannot practice and enjoy my hunting in peace. I don't even bother go out hunting in the afternoons this time of year , i would rather go for a walk with my dogs , to buskett or Dingli cliffs and enjoy seeing the birds of prey hovering above me.
Tony Borg
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:52
In the block of flats where I live, one of the tenants put a stuffed stork outside his flat between
floors. Can somebody tell me if it's legal and if not where can I report him?
Thanks in advance.
R. Zammit
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:51
I agree with May Cassar. Hold a referendum on the future of hunting.
This is a national issue and needs to be decided by the people. Successive Governments have not had the resources nor the gaul to seriously deal with this issue. Thus they should lets the people speak...... through a referendum.
D. Xuereb
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:49
Any other proof to close the season?! What a shameful act.
M. DeBono
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:47
No Mr Farrugia, I would rather say...the police now have the footage and photos of the vehicle...it's easy to identify the poacher. After all, that's what the CABS are here for, they are "equipped with high standard optical devices." He should be taken to court and taught a lesson, his firearm confiscated, and his licence withheld . Stop shooting illegally, and keep legal hunting. That's what we all want. These poachers who think they are above God should be punished. The other hunters do not do these "massacres" or what you may call them. We, other hunters, who practice our hobby in the legal way, can't stand them anymore these poachers who are doing so much in order to destroy our hobby forever!
Lee Micallef
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:44
Id be worried of i was on a plane flying over malta as they would probably try and shoot that down as well !!
Mark Mifsud
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:43
The massacre is blatantly systemic and we cannot expect the government to deploy hundreds of ALE officers all across Malta and Gozo.
Since the hunters themselves are unable/unwilling to expel all their members who commit illegalities and immediately report them to the police, the only rational way forward is to immediately close the season and consider a long term moratorium on hunting.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:40
Instead of being hysteric like Mr. F. Farrugia, I urge the Police authorities to identify the culprit and bring him to justice. Your requested collective punishment does not hold water Sir.
Illegal acts where the victims were HUMAN-BEINGS never urged Mr. Farrugia to act in his present manner. Surprising, isn't it!!!
apgrech
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:39
The worse enemies of the hunters are some of the hunters themselves.
g.c.forte
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:36
Enough is enough........close the season, all the hunters should pay.......we have all the rights to enjoy these birds.
Jason Borg
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:36
What the FKNK defines as the socio-cultural, traditional pastime of Maltese hunters is nothing more than widespread, brutal and indiscriminate killing of birds.
Michael Vella
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:28
Get the idiot that shot that bird, throw his hunting licence in the bin (NEVER to be returned) and impose an adequate fine, and by adequate i am not referring to a €1,000 fine. I am sorry but it is now about time some action is taken by the authorities to stop this slaughter. The only way forward to me seems to be the immediate closing of the hunting season. I know there are many law abiding hunters, but unfortunately these idiots that keep shooting protected birds are endangering your own hunting. Until this stops, the government has a DUTY to take all necessary measures to stop this happening.
How unusually quiet our ministers are about the subject, they are always ready to comment about everything but this seems to be a hot potato which they rather steer clear from. How about the opposition? Not a word from them either, despite their new leader who has a solution to all our problems but clearly not this. Shame on both parties for your cowardly attitude in not even taking a strong position, introducing decent measures or even giving the ALE adequate resources to carry out their job properly!!! Action PLEASE!!
Wilfrid Buttigieg
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:27
THE MALTESE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE RADICAL ACTION. STOP ILLEGAL HUNTING - PUT THESE CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS AND SUSPEND THEIR LICENCE FOR LIFE. FEW, IF ANY, POLITICIANS REMAIN WITH THE MORAL SPINE TO TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS WHICH FALL UNDER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY.
Emanuel Debono
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:27
What a disgrace......I hope that the police will catch whoever was responsible!!!This is the kind of person that is giving all the Maltese Hunters a bad name.My Father was a hunter himself but he always taught us to respect life and never kill anything just for the sake of killing it.
This person is not going to eat this stork....he just killed it for the fun of it.....and he must be a local and there wouldn't be too many green metallic pickups around Malta...Catch the son of a bitch and make an example of him!!
Ivan Camilleri
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:23
STOP THE HUNTING SEASON RIGHT AWAY!!!! THESE PEOPLE ARE INSULTING ALL MALTESE CITIZENS!!!! THEY HAVE TO BE STOPPED!!!!
Lee Micallef
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:23
Now that Malta is within the EU pressure will ultimatley be put upon the goverment to ban this slaughter. Grown men feeling that killing these creatures is somewhat exilirating is beyond belief.They had better find a new hobby soon as their days are definately numbered !
T Mifsud
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:18
Great! Illegal hunting continues unabated. What is the government waiting for to close the season? More storks being shot down? Where are the arrests?
Clearly FKNK has lost all control of its own hunters. The ALE are outnumbered and therefore illegal hunting IS out of control. The only people bringing the perpetraitors to the public are CABS, BridLife and other volunteers.
If FKNK or the ALE cannot control the illegal hunting the the only solution to protect the birds, to protect the law and to protect the rights of the Maltese people is to halt the season.
And the government must act with concrete measures not cosmetic ones such as scapegoating one or two unscruplulous individuals from the 'authorities' who 'protect' hunters by forewarning the arrival of ALE!
David Gatt
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:18
The hunting must be stopped and all the hunters' weapons collected immediately. These people are clearly showing that they cannot be trusted. Shut them down!
I. M. Dingli
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:16
This is a shameful act. No further comments necessary.
P Sultana
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:14
These 'rare' contraventions appear to be happening on a daily basis. Not so 'rare' after all, one might argue! Is this justification to suspend all bird hunting in Malta with immediate effect? I would say so.
Michael Attard
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:14
How long before FFNK complains that it's a frame up ? :)
Pity we need foreigners to teach us how to do it. Well done to CABS.
Why are they managing to do what the police are incapable of doing?
J Farrugia
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:12
stop making a fool of yourself mr farrugia. You don't ban driving because someone gets killed. So what's the problem. Better take care of humans instead of birds and animals. Many babies are killed and murdered by their own mothers in Europe and throughout the whole world by abortions, etc . So what do we do? Ban all mothers?
Stefan Sammut
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:10
Thanks to the CABS for providing the video! Does the govt. need more proof now?
Now everyone can see what type of law conforming hunters we have!!
They do not care!
charles cassar
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:05
No the dont do it for fun...they make filthy money out of it.
steve busuttil
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:03
Dear Franco,
I am pro-hunting although i do not hunt, and i too am disgusted by this person.
However it is useless calling for a hunting ban since this person is already breaking the law and will not stop if a hunting ban is introduced. Is this so hard to understand?
Hunting is one thing and the indiscrimnate killing of anything that flies is just a criminal act.
Now is the time to see if the Law is going to be enforced against this criminal, in my opinion this person should be discqualified from holding any form of gun licence and also have his truck/car confiscated and maybe handed to the ALE so they can use it for serious monitoring and enforcement of the laws.
David Mifsud
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:02
Close the season NOW!
J farrugia
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:01
Austin Gatt should be made the Minister responsible of hunting. he is the only capable of facing such arrogant and senseless bullies. hunting should be stopped immediately.
Neil Dent
Sep 23rd 2008, 12:00
Wait for it people - some senseless idiot (was going to say animal - but that's an insult to innocent animals everywhere) will pop us to tell us that the poor creature was pulled out of Birdlife's vast freezer, defrosted, hurled 50ft up in the air, then filmed falling to earth with shotgun sound-effects!
Quite obviously more dirty tricks from what FKNK ignorantly refer to as 'bird fanatics!'.
I fully agree - close the season now.
D.MANGION
Sep 23rd 2008, 11:59
Dear readers,
Memorise this video, and remember it, when you're about to put some numbers on your vote.
Otherwise you are just passive accomplices.
Erik DeBattista
Sep 23rd 2008, 11:58
Tal biza... jien dejjem kont nghid li within laws kulhadd ghandu dritt tad delizju tieghu.. imma hekk le.. nispera li min hu jinqabad u jhallas qares ta haga bhal din.. ma jistax ikun kulhadd jibqa jaghmel li jrid go dal pajjiz!!
D.Caruana
Sep 23rd 2008, 11:47
Dear Mr. Farrugia,
I start by condemnig this act (If true).
I am a hunter.
From the first of september until now I have shot 3 quails (game)
I did not shoot down that stork or any other protected bird for that matter.
Why should I be blamed?
Collective Punishments are NOT the solution.
They have the Evidence, they should catch the culprit and send him to prison if need be. But I have nothing to do with it.
A Azzopardi
Sep 23rd 2008, 11:34
Just great! So here's the story of a rare bird which has been observed to only rarely migrate over Malta...so...what do you do if we're lucky enough to have one do so?? Why...shoot it down of course!
Let's make them pay the consequence of breaking the law and close the hunting season!
Anna Farrugia
Sep 23rd 2008, 11:32
These hunters only learn through punishment, so it's better for all the Maltese to close the season once and for all. These birdwatchers should try to identify these persons who are doing these irresponsible acts and be fined accordingly.
May Cassar
Sep 23rd 2008, 11:31
Shame on Malta for allowing this MASSACRE to continue, where have the rights of all the other maltese citizens who would love to be able to watch these beautiful creatures fly freely about gone. The majority is being cheated because of the few. What the Maltese population wants can be easily known. Hold a referendum on the matter and the problem will be removed from any goverments hands. Let the people decide.
K.Agius
Sep 23rd 2008, 11:26
"Malta, is regarded as having the worst bird protection reputation in Europe and has repeatedly refused to comply with European bird hunting and trapping laws. The world needs to witness what's going on."......this is what the international media says!!!
richard paul agius
Sep 23rd 2008, 11:26
Close the Hunting Season.... now and for ever !!!
Alex Ellul
Sep 23rd 2008, 11:23
The hunters are taking revenge out of this year's Spring closed season by shooting down anything that flies:
If hunting was closed as soon as the bird massacre commenced, this stork would not have found its end. It would still be alive like many other protected birds.
STOP THE MASSACRE. STOP HUNTING.
N Abela
Sep 23rd 2008, 11:19
INFACT......what is the govn waiting to close down the season??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Franco Farrugia
Sep 23rd 2008, 11:08
What is the government waiting for to close down the hunting season?
Don't we have enough proof that there is a MASSACRE going on and that these people will simply not be controlled?
Close down the hunting season. Close it now. These are living things which are being killed just for the fun of it.