Juan Ameen
I'm being preyed upon, investigated falconer claims
A trained falconer shows one of the raptors at the Siġġiewi falconry centre the owner of which is being investigated for allegedly keeping wild protected birds illegally. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.
A falconry centre owner under investigation for allegedly keeping birds of prey illegally yesterday claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy.
When pressed to say who was behind this supposed conspiracy, he said it was "certain people or NGOs" who had a hidden agenda and were set on "framing him".
Earlier this month, 15 protected raptors were seized from his falconry centre in the limits of Siġġiewi, during a joint raid between the police Administrative Law Enforcement unit and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
Even though no charges have been pressed against him, the police had said that the birds, some of which were injured, were confiscated because the falconry centre did not have the necessary documents to prove their origin.
He is also being investigated in connection with allegedly keeping birds that did not have the rings and markings required by Mepa. The confiscated raptors have since been sent to a rehabilitation centre in Sicily.
During a tour for the press at his falconry centre yesterday, Rene Scicluna defended himself. He said he had applied for the necessary permits with the authority to release the birds in the wild.
When asked whether he had a license, Mr Scicluna said he had a zoo licence, which allows him to have a clinic on site, where he used to tend to the birds that were confiscated.
In fact, previously, Mr Scicluna had insisted that people had taken the unmarked injured birds to him for him to treat.
BirdLife Malta insisted that it was evident that he had no intention of releasing the wild protected birds kept illegally in captivity, especially after Mr Scicluna admitted with the police that most of the birds had been at the centre for over a year.
The conservation group said it was not against the falconry centre but against birds of prey being kept illegally.
It also refuted a claim by Mr Scicluna that he had tried to coordinate the treatment of the birds with Birdlife.
During the press tour, Mr Scicluna said he met BirdLife Malta president Joseph Mangion and briefly mentioned his wish to chip the captive birds.
Earlier he had spoken about the birds' release to a government veterinarian during a routine inspection, Mr Scicluna said and expressed his wish to install a tracking system, using a chip, on all the birds.
However, when he mentioned his wishes to Mr Mangion the latter abruptly cut him short "and two weeks later the police arrived at the falconry centre for an inspection".
"We have been left without an answer and people are trying to mudsling us. Mepa needs to be more balanced towards people like me and NGOs need to collaborate more," he added.
BirdLife denied categorically that Mr Mangion had spoken to Mr Scicluna about releasing the captured birds in the wild.
"If Mr Scicluna had said anything about any wild protected birds in his possession I would have immediately warned him that it was illegal to keep them and that he should contact the authorities." Mr Mangion said.
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’
Bundy does not know whether to...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Petrol price up 6c
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
4 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
K Dimech
Dec 19th 2008, 09:27
I have visited the Falconry not once but twice with my son, and we enjoyed it so much that we had planned to go again soon! On both visits I could see that the birds are very well cared for, and the falconers are very well trained in how to handle the birds. It is a real pity that the initiative taken by Mr Scicluna is not appreciated by all. Shame!
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Dec 18th 2008, 14:14
How can a falconry centre, that is primarily an educational aid to help people appreciate raptors allegedly be denied the right to treat injured Birds.
Do we have to send injured birds overseas to be treated when we have experts in our midst?
This pathetic state of affairs should be clarified forthwith. No matter what Birdlife Malta say, the Minister concerned should ensure that such a centre be granted all necessary permits to operate as a rehabilitation centre for any injured raptors
As thing stand any injured birds found by the public are handed over to Birdlife Malta.
Do BirdlifeMalta have the necessary permits to keep these birds? Considering that they might, under what pretense does Birdlife get a permit and an expertly run raptor centre be denied one?
The only reason for this charade is that the Falconry centre is denying Birdlife the opportunity to create the usual fuss whenever an injured bird is found. It's not surprising Birdlfie are opposing such a noble act.
Are Birdlife after rehabilitation of raptors or the usual slimy anti hunting publicity? Judging by this case it's definitely publicity they're after.
Bjorn Bonello
Dec 18th 2008, 11:36
Allow me to exhibit my ignorance in this, but probably shipping the birds from Malta to Sicily could have stressed the birds more. I think we should have tried to cooperate with the Malta Falconry Centre to have a proper rescue area if according to BirdLife this was not the case, and at least have a facility locally where people could take injured birds. I would imagine there is nowhere better than the centre which has trained falconers to cure and rehabilitate the birds. The birds could have been kept there for more than a year, I think, because large birds of prey must be totally able to get their own food before being released or else you would be setting them free to die! Some NGOs should be more balanced, I feel, instead of trying to cut the nose to spite the face.Funny that some NGOs always seek to be heard but when put in a position of power they go down on people without seeking dialogue or hear their side of the story.I would have thought they would know better.Why Maltese can't work in a team beats me!!!
Kevin Zammit
Dec 18th 2008, 11:16
Pathetic. Word had already gone around how children were enjoying visiting the falconry. On an island that shoots at anything that moves Mr. Scicluna was probably doing more towards ending this practice than the obviously powerless NGOs. If children get to understand these birds up close and learn to love them then that is a more permanent change than sending an army of cops after phantom hunters that nobody likes to arrest for either political or familiar reasons.
I still hear shooting early in the morning like in a war zone and we all know the police are not effective. So bullying this one individual is going to convince us that we have turned a new leaf?
Sort the hunters out first ...