Police seize 29 birds after CABS incident
The police this morning seized 29 protected birds (waders) after a police patrol was alerted to the presence of trappers in Bahrija.
The alert was raised by international bird watchers on the first day of a CABS watch. CABS has called its watch Operaton Safe Haven.
The team said that after detecting the trapping site its members observed it from a stand-off distance and it soon became clear that two nets, both some 40 meters long, had been set up.
"We became suspicious and decided to take a closer look" says CABS Press Officer Axel Hirschfeld. The distinctive taped calls of a Redshank, a protected species, were heard emitting from a loudspeaker. Through a spotting scope the CABS members were able to confirm the presence of protected bird species in an aviary adjacent to the trapping site.
"As we began to collect evidence on film from a nearby track, a stout half-naked middle aged man ran out of the hut, blocked our way, and began to regale us with foul language."
The man then opened the birdwatchers' car door and spat directly in the face of the co-driver. Everything was recorded on film.
"In order to prevent the situation escalating the conservationists drove off and alerted the police. The A.L.E. patrol which arrived promptly arrested the culprit shortly afterwards and took him to the police HQ in Floriana for questioning."
A second A.L.E. patrol meanwhile searched the trapping site and freed 29 Little Stints as well as Wood and Common Sandpipers. The birds, which were neither ringed nor registered with the authorities, were confiscated and later released into the wild at Ghadira Nature Reserve.
CABS said the trapper faces prosecution for offences against bird protection regulations. A further charge of spitting at the CABS team member was dropped on the insistence of CABS the man having apologised in writing.
The CABS teams will be in Malta up to October 4.
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Julian Agius
Sep 15th 2009, 13:18
Blame Pn/Labour.If hunting permits were stopped being issued 25 years ago instead of hunting hunters for their vote to-day a small fraction is left.How can you stop someone from
doing somthing he enjoy all his life in a matter of days?
And Please leave the tourist out!!!
Go on Sliema promenade & ask tourists their complain? Dogs dirt allover the rocks&pavements:their belongings being stolen while going for a dip;dirty showers from washing balconys etc..
And Why foreigners have to tell us what to do?! Can any Maltese go & stop killing catholic priests ; abortons; fox hunting; & on & on in their country. As our saying goes the camel can not see his hump
Julian
Kenneth Cassar
Sep 15th 2009, 12:32
@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin:
Actually Mr Paul Micallef did not only mention the cable channel Caccia e pesca. He also mentioned "our land and traditions", spyies (sic), bird lovers, tree huggers etc. He also asked why CABS do not go and pester countries that are shown on the hunting and fishing channel. Specifically, he mentioned the Italians who "seem to go unhindered with there daily killings".
Now, unless you are going to tell me that trappers kill the birds, you will concede that Mr Micallef too is confusing hunting with trapping. To use your own words, "there is a BIG DIFFERENCE between trapping and hunting".
If you still insist that Mr Micallef is not confusing hunting with trapping, when "In this report a trapper is involved", do you expect ME to take YOU seriously?
At least, if you choose to attack someone, be consistent and criticize "allies" who make the same mistake.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 15th 2009, 12:18
Mr Kenneth Cassar, do you really want me to take you seriously?!! Mr Paul Micallef mentioned: "the cable channel CACCIA E PESSCA"!! And please don't expect me to follow you in your anticipated 'going round in circles'!!
Kenneth Cassar
Sep 15th 2009, 10:02
@ Sylvana Zarb Darmanin:
What's funny is that a hunting/trapping supporter by the name of Paul Micallef seems to not only "confuse hunting with trapping", but even includes "fishing" for what its worth.
Perhaps, Paul Micallef's comment is also extremist and blinkered.
Doris Vella
Sep 14th 2009, 10:45
Ban hunting and trapping for good !!!!!! Birds are not anyone's property and noone has to right to kill them.
HUNTERS AND TRAPPERS FIND ANOTHER HOBBY !!!!
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 14th 2009, 09:57
You conveniently opted not to understand my comment Ms May Cassar. This is like the police closing in on a drug-pushers and individuals comment online regarding burglary!
E. Azzopardi
Sep 14th 2009, 09:46
After last Thursday's decision by the EU, we still do not learn. The way things are going all hunting will be abolished. ( I thought that trapping was abolished by end 2008) The hunters and trappers are their own enemies.
And another thing. Aren't we able to control these activities? Why do we have to rely on foreigners to come (they have every right to do so) check what is happening and inform the police?
I think it is humiliating. Sorry, we have no pride in our country and no self esteem.
J. Borg
Sep 14th 2009, 08:55
it seems the sick "hobby" of hunting and trapping is being justified by those involved since (albeit it is bad) it is not as bad as indiscriminate abortion, drug dealing and war.
Very interesting logic and an eye-opener indeed!
R.Spiteri
Sep 14th 2009, 06:37
You`re right Anthony Formosa.Alla jbierek b`dawn naghmlu show.Ara min suppost qieghed gewwa u hallewh barra u sadanittant ikompli jistghana u jeqred l-uliedna.
joe portelli
Sep 14th 2009, 06:30
Its not Lawless - the Trappers are the Law !
j.spiteri
Sep 13th 2009, 21:46
@Susanne Herold
You mean like what the Brits are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan? More civilians are killed by your armed force's weapons over there than birds being shot in Malta by hunters.
M.Spiteri
Sep 13th 2009, 21:37
Does being shirt-less mean running about half naked if referring to a trapper?
may cassar
Sep 13th 2009, 21:02
@sylvana zarb Darmain
Perhaps for those who prefer to see birds flying about free, the difference between a hunter who kills and a trapper who traps to keep the birds for himself or to sell is the same. The outcome is the same. Others are deprived from seeing nature at it's best.
r sammut
Sep 13th 2009, 20:15
Taking about blinkered vision! Hey you guys the birds were all alive and kicking and later all were released!!! Bet that not even half the fuss would have been kicked up, had the guy been caught dealing drugs!
Why then pass the blame on all other law abiders? This holier than thou attitude shines brightest around such matters.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Sep 13th 2009, 19:36
Extremism and blinkered comments at their best!!!! Do the anti's commenting below realise that there is a BIG DIFFERENCE between trapping and hunting? In this report a trapper is involved YET they chose to attack hunters!! Unbelievable!! But that is where extremism leads you to!
Jos Vella
Sep 13th 2009, 19:09
@edward camilleri
I fully agree with you; and I bet that when the police went on the trapper they apologised for the inconvenience caused to the trapper.
Susanne Herold
Sep 13th 2009, 18:53
@ Charles Sammut
You should be happy to have tourists around - 70 % of the Maltese income is generated by tourists and forgeign companies! By the way - do you call this a hobby; killing birds?
Anthony Formosa
Sep 13th 2009, 18:12
What's all this fuss, I'm sure if he was caught with a kilo of cocaine ready to kill our children their will not be so much hatred to this half naked man. What is wrong of being half naked maybe he is under the poverty line, or has a nice body, what if she was a woman? please stop this jealousy.
@Frans H Said. Are we part of the nature? do you know how many millions unborn are murdered every year on those countries from where the CABS comes from. Take the opportunity to tell these people to give the unborn a chance to live before they come here. I'm expecting the usual buzz phrase, that two wrongs don't make a right. Yeah hang this man, punish him severely take away the rest of his clothes.
may cassar
Sep 13th 2009, 17:37
@ Paul Micallef
I would not dream of wasting my time watching a programme about hunting or fishing. Spending time on more constructive things like watching Animal Plant and learning about Gods creatures large and small is more satisfing, especailly since pretty soon many species will be extinct and we will only be able to see pictures of them in the future. I would imagine that it would be to stressful for you to watch such a programe, since you would only regret not being present hiding behind a tree and shooting at some poor animal.
Charles Sammut
Sep 13th 2009, 17:18
@ Susanne Herold
Half naked, just like some of the tourists we see strolling in Valletta and Sliema. At least he was out in the bundu practising his nefarious hobby.
Tony Caruana
Sep 13th 2009, 16:42
I hope this guy get what he deserves.
Edward Camilleri
Sep 13th 2009, 16:34
its a mess. It cannot be that when CABS are here only we find illegalities. Someone is not doing his job. The police should ensure that illegal trapping/hunting is stopped immediately. If CABS came and on their first day they found such a trapping site, for sure there must be much more. More police presence is needed in the countryside.
I hope no one from FKNK or St. Huberto comes and tell us that it is not true that this man had so many protected birds in his possession. Because usually when birdlife or anyone shows a dead bird, its always that this bird was not shot or caught on these islands!
Christopher Farrugia
Sep 13th 2009, 16:15
How can someone in his right state of mind concur with the action of such trappers and hunters or should I say conservationists?
Give me a break!
F.Camilleri
Sep 13th 2009, 15:41
So one can actually spit in someone's face, apologise in writing and go scot free?...... Apology or not, the authorities should go ahead with the prosecution anyway.
Frans H Said
Sep 13th 2009, 15:14
You just cannot trust the murders of nature. The whole world is worried about the decay of nature but in Malta solely for VOTES, we let trappers and hunters do what they pleae. Both major parties should be strict. Their stance will balance each other and none will gain any votes by ruining nature. Both hunters and trappers are programmed to kill nature. Stop all the slaughter. FKNK claims victory. That would be a phrryc victory.
Roderick Chetcuti
Sep 13th 2009, 15:08
They deserve nothing........ ban hunting all year round
Paul Micallef
Sep 13th 2009, 15:01
Wow our land and traditions, and we have all these SPYIES among us.
Why not pester the countries that are shown on the cable channel CACCIA E PESSCA?? the Italians seem to go unhindered with there daily killings, if you bird lovers and tree huggers do not believe me just watch this station.
Vincent Pisani
Sep 13th 2009, 14:56
Tal-misthija! Qeghdin nidru redikoli mal-barranin! Ghadek tiltaqa ma nies li tahseb li ghadhom jighxu fl-ghirien!!!
ivan camilleri
Sep 13th 2009, 14:45
Here we go again.....what an example!!! Derogations & compassions??!!! Give us a break!!
Susanne Herold
Sep 13th 2009, 14:26
We are certainly living in the jungle - the difference is that the people there are more civilized than in Malta! Look below - running around half naked.....!
Adrian Cardona
Sep 13th 2009, 14:25
Don't let these people scare you off CABS. you are doing sterling work, and you're exposing the lawlessness of some of these hunters. Now just sit back and wait for the hunting 'experts' here to start launching their attacks...
G. Camilleri
Sep 13th 2009, 14:09
Well done !! Good job !! Keep it up !!!!!!!!
Bill Millam
Sep 13th 2009, 13:54
Here we go round the mulberry bush, again! I can see this beaing another loooooooong thread!
Although the fact that the guy spit in someone's face and the possible health implications involved, that by itself should lead to a charge of criminal assault against the perpetrator, immaterial if CABS accepted the guy's apology or not! Such crap should not be taken/accepted lightly.
Bill Millam
Los Angeles