Kurt Bugeja Coster
Protected birds seized from falconry
A marsh harrier, one of the 16 protected birds kept illegally by the falconry.
Fourteen protected raptors were seized by the police and planning authority officials on Monday from a falconry in the limits of Siġġiewi.
Sources said the birds were seized because the owners are believed not to have had the necessary papers proving the origins of the species. Among the birds were two long-crested eagles believed to have been either not ringed or bearing inadequate rings.
The police confirmed that the action had taken place, saying the Administrative Law Enforcement section got wind of suspicious activity in the vicinity and, together with officials from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, raided the building.
The 14 birds, some of which were wounded, were found in cages and another was found dead.
An inquiry has now been launched and the birds, which are temporarily being cared for by the planning authority, are being examined.
The sources said the owner of the falconry is being questioned by the police to establish the origins of the birds and whether they have been subjected to any cruelty.
A black kite and a European hobby apparently had a broken wing, which healed badly.
A marsh harrier lost one eye and another was very badly injured.
The largest seizure made so far took place about three months ago when a raid yielded 75 protected wader and song birds in a greenhouse in Baħrija.
According to experts, the protected species had a total market value exceeding €20,000.
Altogether, 32 little stints, 13 wood sandpipers, eight common sandpipers, five little ringed plovers, five green sandpipers, two white wagtails, two yellow wagtails and a red-throated pipit, a dunlin, a temminch's stint and ring ouzel were found.
The birds were kept in police custody throughout the night and taken to the Għadira nature reserve in the morning where they were released.
Unfortunately, three had died beforehand.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
5 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Anthony Farrugia
Dec 6th 2008, 08:47
Beforehand i condemn any illegal activity, no one is above the law!!! Before commenting ask yourself if the birds when seized are in a better environment than the falconry centre, as most of them cannot be released due the injuries sustained. I am making no publicity to the falconry centre, and have no connection to it. But know one thing, before a bird of prey is released, it needs intensive training to build the muscular structure again, it needs also to be trained hunting again. No human being runs or even walks after months in a hospital bed, and the same goes to the birds. Such intensive training can only be given by falconers, which is already being done in every country. Why not in Malta?? Released birds rarely migrate, they either return back and be shot again or fall in the sea. Even fit birds become exhausted when migrated and some don't succeed in their task. I am writing this only for the love of the birds which for me mean my life.
Kevin Scicluna
Dec 5th 2008, 15:47
Had they been ringed and the necessary papers in good rule, what difference this will make? Wouldn`t they be in captivitiy as well? Better if we say that the governement was not collecting any taxes upon them.
carmelo aquilina
Dec 5th 2008, 14:24
@ Mark Mifsud Bonnici
Can you for ONCE condemn the inhumane captivity of these magnificent brids and condemn ther whole enterprise if the law is being broken ? This is good news and well done to the Police - if only the FKNK and its apologists reported more of the "law breaking minority" to the Police.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Dec 5th 2008, 12:31
Can the experts please explain how they arrived at a value of 20,000euro for the seized 75 waders, pipit, ring ouzel and wagtails?
This works out at euro266 per bird.
Assuming these same calculations, my catch this year of 10 quail, 3 turtle doves, 14 thrushes and 9 starlings works out at 9576 euro. Not bad for three months hunting.
Who are these "experts" trying to fool.
l borg
Dec 5th 2008, 10:36
better alive than stuffed in the wallunit