Claudia Calleja
Rare eagle shot down
Two hunters are being investigated by the police after a rare and protected lesser spotted eagle was shot dead near Buskett on Saturday afternoon, The Times has learned.
The shooting of the juvenile eagle was reported to the police by members of Birdlife Malta's Raptor Camp who witnessed the bird being gunned down after the 3 p.m. ban on hunting.
A witness said the bird had barely landed on a tree when two men crept towards it. A shot was then heard and the bird took flight for a few feet before plunging to the ground.
Some time later the two men reappeared and one seemed to be hiding something under his T-shirt. As they made their way towards their car, one of the men hid the object by the side of the road.
Suspecting that this was the bird, the witness called the police Administrative Law Enforcement unit, which was on patrol in the area. Police officers turned up within minutes and detained the two men.
The hidden object turned out to be a juvenile lesser spotted eagle, the witness said. "The body of the bird was still warm. We had seen it flying before. It's pretty horrifying to see it lying dead in the back of the police Land Rover."
Apart from being illegal, the killing of this rare bird is "really bad in international eyes", Birdlife campaign coordinator Jeffrey Saliba said. He explained that a lot of money was spent by foreign governments and the EU for the conservation of these eagles.
Given the birds' breeding and migratory patterns, it was probably coming from Germany but this was not certain. He added that a German conservation organisation was monitoring another two juvenile lesser spotted eagles that were on their way to the island.
By the afternoon, another five lesser spotted eagles were seen flying over Malta by Birdlife, bringing the total number of this species in Malta this week to nine.
A Birdlife spokesman said this constituted five per cent of Germany's population of lesser spotted eagles, adding that Bernd Meyburg, researcher at the telemetric project of lesser spotted eagles, was worried.
"Dr Meyburg is very concerned because one has already been killed and Malta's reputation does not bode well for the future of these birds. He is worried the lesser spotted eagles may be killed before returning to their nesting site in Germany," the spokesman said.
Lino Farrugia, secretary of the hunters' federation, FKNK, stressed they will not tolerate illegal hunting, adding that if the two investigated hunters were FKNK members and they were arraigned and subsequently convicted by the court they would be expelled.
Referring to the recent statement by the German-based anti-hunting group CABS - claiming that there had been a massacre of protected birds last weekend - Mr Farrugia said "shooting one bird is not a massacre".
This latest shooting revives the ghost of Sigmar, a German lesser spotted eagle, which made the headlines both in Malta and Germany after it was found suffering from gunshot wounds in Birżebbuġa last September.
After being shot, Sigmar - named after the country's Environment Minister - was flown to Berlin to undergo an operation to stabilise its leg after some of the six pellets detected through an X-ray scan were taken out. But two months later it succumbed to an infection around its shinbone.
During the Raptor Camp, that ended this weekend, Birdlife said it had received 17 protected birds that had been shot, including one grey heron, five marsh harriers, five honey buzzards and a lesser kestrel.
In the last 11 days, participants also witnessed a further 19 protected birds being shot down but not recovered, including two black storks.
Six hunters were arrested by the police over the past two weeks following information supplied by participants in the Raptor Camp, Birdlife said.
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MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 30th 2008, 10:12
Stop interfering in hunting regulations and you will gain respect from the hunter.
Up to some time ago thanks to Birdlife's insistence with government. Duck shooting on land was illegal for a short time. Anyone caught shooting duck was breaking the law. This is what irritates the hunter. Your interference makes anyone hunting one of the most sought after game birds a poacher.
Get the point. Stop suggesting similar rubbish to our government.
Richard Cachia Zammit
Sep 29th 2008, 20:57
@MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Maybe the GLOBAL status (i.e. Worldwide) of the Lesser Spotted Eagle is of least concern but here we are dealing with those birds breeding in Europe. Maybe you should explain to all ornithologists, environmentalists, scientists and even the EU commission itself, that there is a mistake in the EU Bird Directive because this species is in the Annex 1 of the Bird Directive and the status is shown as Unfavourable. But what do they know, the general public deserves to know the truth and only Mark Mifsud Bonnici is able to give that.
Stephen Evans
Sep 29th 2008, 20:52
Sadly an Eagle struck one of the Red Arrows Hawks six weeks ago, the plane is still out of action, leaving the team deeply affected by this beautifil creature and a sad end. The thing is it was a very sad accident. What has happened here in Malta is unforgiveable. Mindless people!!!!!
J. Borg
Sep 29th 2008, 20:43
Mr. Mifsud Bonnici,
The general public deserve having the countryside available throughout they year for peaceful relaxation, without the hazard of lead showers or worse, and neither verbal abuse or nasty looks.
If you own a plot of land - good luck to you - but you do not own the sky and less more the birds that grace it.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 29th 2008, 17:40
This despicable act will hopefully be treated very severely by the judiciary. Unlike other similar offences that were given ridiculous fines that do not serve to deter further abuse.
I am in no way excusing this vile act but I would however like to point out how this illegality gave another opportunity for BIRDLIFE< CABS AND CO to lie about facts.
There is no threat to the global population of this eagle. it is only in Germany that habitat destruction and hunting persecution has rendered it as critically endangered.
This is a quote taken from http://www.avibirds.com/euhtml/Lesser_Spotted_Eagle.html.
"This species has an estimated global Extent of Occurrence of 1,000,000-10,000,000 km2. It has a large global population estimated to be 100,000-1,000,000 individuals (Ferguson-Lees et al. 2001). Global population trends have not been quantified; there is evidence of a population decline (Ferguson-Lees et al. 2001), but the species is not believed to approach the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List. For these reasons, the species is evaluated as Least Concern."
When will Birdlife, CABS and Co start telling the truth. The general public deserves no less.
Richard Cachia Zammit
Sep 29th 2008, 17:36
@MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
re difference between hunter and poacher, so you are a hunter because you don't shoot protected birds. What would you do if you had to see a poacher shooting at a protected species? If you just turn your back and pretend as if nothing happened....then there is no difference between a hunter and a poacher for me. Luckily there are REAL hunters, who are starting to think otherwise and are ready to report when seeing illegalities.
Loïc Le Brun
Sep 29th 2008, 17:20
Everyone is always mentioning FKNK. Is it the biggest one? Aren't they any other organizations? A national one regrouping and monitoring all the local ones as it is the case in many other countries? Please advise.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Sep 29th 2008, 16:58
Chris Finch
Hunters do not shoot protected birds it is poachers that do. If you cannot distinguish between the two I suggest you take up stamp collecting.
Paul Borg
Sep 29th 2008, 14:05
How dare these hunters deprive the rest of the community of the human right to enjoying the beauty of God and nature in the local and migratory birdlife?. What glory for Maltese culture and civilisation when Maltese tourists in countries overseas tell their hosts that their greatest regret is not to have brought their guns with them when they see the birdlife and local fauna interacting with the local community. Ban all hunting in Malta!. Malta does not have much in terms of natural resources; Protect the little you have! The Days when the very poor relied on hunting for food are thankfully long gone. So should the hunting privileges of the wealthy. If you want to shoot for sport join a gun club and go to the shooting range. If there are no shooting ranges in Malta the government should establish one in each constituency if necessary. You never know; you may win international glory in shooting at the Olympic and Commonwealth games
Andrew Gatt
Sep 29th 2008, 13:39
.......and, by the way, regarding comments about tourism. Perhaps you may wish to consider the overcharging, the crappy service, the lack of standards, the roads, the driving, the shoddy outlets, the short-changing, the rowdiness, the lack of cleanliness, bad value etc etc etc.
These do far more harm to our tourism product as they are first-impression experiences that tourists do not easily forget. As for the harm illegal poaching does, well, we have the anti-hunting organisations to thank - they continus to smear Malta all over the world with sensationalised and exaggerated accounts to encourage boycotts! Pretty patriotic, I must say!
Nigel Lawrence
Sep 29th 2008, 12:23
When these people (sic) are found guilty, their guns should be not only confiscated but destroyed, to disable any further use.
L. Mercieca
Sep 29th 2008, 11:53
Cabs claim that on friday 19/09 a massacre of birds of prey took place.... Of course FKNK denies all this...
But when one thinks that:
1 out of 9 eagles is seen shot down.
3 out of 12 storks are seen shot down.
then on 19/09 were there was hundreds of honey buzzards and marsh harriers roosting all over the island, i am not surprised that a massacre took place, and this is only 1 day! What about the rest of days? What about the injured birds that reach Birdlife after being found by public?
"1 dead eagle is not a massacre", its just the tip of an ongoing daily slaughter. Why is the government so reluctant to stop this? Arent birds part of the environment or its just the trees...?
Chris Galea
Sep 29th 2008, 11:39
@K Ellul & J Oatmon
Didn't you read the article well ? at the time of the incident hunting was banned,so what difference is it going to make for certain "hunters" !
K Ellul
Sep 29th 2008, 10:54
Does the Government have the guts to BAN hunting??
M.Degiorgio
Sep 29th 2008, 10:48
If the FKNK is to be serious against illegal hunting, it should not only expel their outlaw members but continue the procedure by pursuing them for damaging FKNK's reputation! Not to mention actually helping the law enforcements to track down all outlaw hunters..
Jeremy J Camilleri
Sep 29th 2008, 10:41
'Lino Farrugia, secretary of the hunters' federation, FKNK, stressed they will not tolerate illegal hunting, adding that if the two investigated hunters were FKNK members and they were arraigned and subsequently convicted by the court they would be expelled.'
Is this the same Carm Lino Farrugia fined for aiding illegal trapping? If so, why is he not expelled?
J. Borg
Sep 29th 2008, 10:24
It is positive that some hunters are condemning such criminal acts....however further steps are needed.
It is a pity that those hunters who think likewise, and have recommended that other hunters adopt a more watchful approach to also help identify such criminals (on FKNK forum), have been 'encouraged' by others not to divide the hunting community and relax rather than confront such criminals.
Hope the leaders will issue the overdue guidance, and take initiatives - rather than having ALE chasing abusers, whilst a network of hunters' mobiles give advance warning of any police oncoming visit!
J Oatmon
Sep 29th 2008, 09:54
Yet more bird shooters flouting the laws of Malta - it seems the present laws and penalties are just not harsh enough to stop illegal bird killing.
The answer is well know to everyone - ban all bird shooting in Malta - no if's and no buts.
The result of these illegal bird shootings, is all bad especially the very bad publicity for Malta in the EU where most of the tourists come from.
Which is the more valuable and important:-
1. Keep the bird shooters happy, and ruin Malta's image?
2. Stop the bird killing and make Malta a preferred destination for more tourists, for the benefit of all Maltese?
Chris Finch
Sep 29th 2008, 09:50
Yesterday we had MMB saying that hunters do not shoot protected species, probably while this very act was taking place.
Today we have Lino Farrugia saying that anyone in their ranks who is arraigned and convicted will be expelled. Erm are you going to expel yourself Lino? To give your statement ANY credibility amongst the rest of the population you should. And I know you have quantified your statement by adding the caveat 'hunting' but it is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.
And you are right, one dead bird isnt a massacre, but 1. it isnt just one bird is it. and 2. even one dead bird of a protected species is still one too many.
It seems the hunters are not living in the real world.
Come on, if you want to protect your hobby, get out there and stop these cowboys shooting anything that flies. Show us a bit of that conservation that is in your title.
Andrew Gatt
Sep 29th 2008, 09:41
Excellent news! Another 2 poachers arrested.....let's hope that they are not let off with a mere slap on the wrist. If found guilty, they should be given the maximum punishment allowed at law and have their licences withdrawn FOREVER (if they had a license in the first place, that is!)
After all the bad press and exaggerations flying around,