Poachers kill great white egret

Poachers yesterday afternoon shot a great white egret ignoring three police units and BirdLife members, BirdLife said in a statement today.

The egret was one of six that landed at the Salina Bird Sanctuary.

BirdLife said it sent a team to the sanctuary and informed the Administrative Law Enforcement about the presence of the rare visitors as it feared they would be targeted by poachers.

BirdLife Malta conservation manager Andre Raine said the flock was spooked by gunfire just after 6:30 p.m.

The ALE police arrested a hunter who was seen searching the fields shortly after the shooting. A witness had seen him firing at the protected birds, and under examination he confessed to his crime.

The BirdLife team remained in the area until the morning to ensure that the birds would not be targeted again when they returned to the salt pans to rest.

BirdLife urged the government to increase the fines and cancel permits for repeat offenders.

It said that a Wildlife Crime Unit should also be set up to safeguard Malta’s natural environment.