Juan Ameen
'No will to end illegal hunting'
The lack of action over the discovery of 201 dead protected birds in the Miżieb woodland reflects a great lack of political will to stop illegal hunting, two international bird protection organisations have claimed.
Illegal hunting will only stop through a proactive approach but only if the government, opposition and political parties make an effort to do so, BirdLife Malta and Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) said yesterday.
Volunteers from the two organisations, which are currently running bird watch camps here, scoured the Miżieb woodland after chancing upon the first few dead birds on Sunday.
During searches over the weekend, the tally grew to 201 birds, all found under rubbish and stones in the woodland, which is managed by the hunters' association.
Dubbed by the volunteers as a "mass cemetery", some of the birds had been shot only recently while other carcasses looked several months old.
The police opened an investigation but it falls far short of the birdwatchers' expectations as the area was not cordoned off and evidence was collected by the volunteers rather than officers assigned to the case.
On Tuesday, BirdLife Malta wrote to the Attorney General complaining that the police were not treating Miżieb as a crime scene.
The CABS' press officer Axel Hirschfeld said this showed clearly that the Maltese police did not take seriously the "worse wild life crime committed in Europe".
"The volunteers had to do the job of the police and search the area," he said, pointing out that only one third of the area has been searched so far.
Now a dossier on what was found in Miżieb will be drawn up and sent to the European hunters association (FACE) and the European Commission.
Just 40 minutes before the press conference, the hunters association sent an open letter to the Police Commissioner querying the validity of the birdwatchers' reports as they have done since the discovery was made.
The hunters called for an official police inquiry and another by a veterinarian specialised in birds appointed by the Animal Welfare Department to determine the exact cause and time of the birds' deaths.
However, when it was pointed out to them that an investigation was actually ongoing, Mr Farrugia said he was satisfied with that.
"We wanted an investigation and we are ready to help," Mr Farrugia said.
The federation also offered to pay for police officers to accompany members of Birdlife and CABS while out bird watching. "We are ready to do this - so that there will be a witness when these things happen," Mr Farrugia said.
But BirdLife executive director Tolga Temuge welcomed the proposal, saying it would make the life of volunteers easier since they would not have to wait for the police to arrive, when they spot something illegal.
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24 Comments
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Jason Zammit
Sep 24th 2010, 14:46
Worst wildlife crimes in malta!!!.........come on get a life!!!!...the anti are so biased!!!
Anyone would like ot join in a pro-hunting research please contact: minebyright@yahoo.co.uk
John Borg
Sep 24th 2009, 15:23
@ D. Scerri,
The Pharoe Islands are in Denmark ,is Denmark not in the EU, please correct me if I`am wrong.
http://europa.eu/abc/european_countries/index_en.htm
Anthony Formosa
Sep 24th 2009, 15:16
@ J.Borg: Without jumping into conclusions, you are frustrated because you cannot accept the fact that Bahrija is privately owned by hunters. Bahrija is split in areas and I never excluded that abuses do not exist in such areas, however if one bird out of hundred is shot, you and your ilk’s will come all out that in Bahrija hunters are blasting protected birds which is not fair. By generalizing everyone you're sending the wrong message that law abiding hunters are as guilty as poachers.
Have a nice day.
Johannes Brinkerhoff
Sep 24th 2009, 14:36
A civilised society will only describe what is going on in your island/country as utterly disgusting and barbaric. Malta should be blacklisted not only amongst EU member countries but worldwide for allowing this slaughter to continue and your government should be held accountable for its inaction, its inability and its lack of desire/intention to put a stop to this savage tradition, if that is what Maltese call the killing of birds "tradition".
Malta is fast becoming the laughling stock of legitimate and legally organised hunting associations within mainland Europe, associations that recognise the importance of adhering to strict hunting guidelines which is much more than can be said for the Maltese hunters' various association groups and their officials.
I make no apologies for being so blunt about what is factual and what is sickening to see happening in Malta.
Johannes Brinkerhoff
http://www.vogelbescherming.nl/
D. Scerri
Sep 24th 2009, 14:33
@Jane Attard
The Faroe Islands are not in the EU.
j cutajar
Sep 24th 2009, 14:32
@Jane attard...we're not saying their's is right & ours are wrong.
We're saying their's is wrong & ours is wrong.Hunters love comparing the wrong they do to someone else's wrong. Malta is simply added to your list that's all..... thanks to hunting
J Farrugia
Sep 24th 2009, 14:16
No one will ban hunting or trapping. The ECJ sentence is clear. So to all those foreigners bent on abolishing Maltese way of life and traditions as well as all our pastimes, festas bombs etc., no one will abolish them.
Jane Attard
Sep 24th 2009, 14:01
When I read comments like these "worse wild life crime committed in Europe" I ask myself doesn`t these things happen also somewhere else or only in Malta,first of all I want to make it clear that I`m against any form of illegality of any kind. If one looks at what happens in other countries I ask myself but why do our illegalities gets headlines all over the world,it`s not right illegalities happens everywhere,bird killings happens everywhere, here are some web-sites of what happens in other EU countries which they claim as culture,sports or whatever but the difference is theirs is right our is wrong,
http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/news/397918/Shooting_estate_offers_reward_to_catch_buzzard_killers.html
This is what I call a massacre but maybe because it`s in UK it is OK,
http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/readers/gallery/10255/shooting-pictures/2
http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/readers/gallery/10255/shooting-pictures/7
http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/readers/gallery/10255/shooting-pictures/8
http://www.shootinguk.co.uk/readers/gallery/10255/shooting-pictures/26
Here is also another type of massacre which happens in the EU look at these web-sites--
http://puertogaleradive.com/blog/index.php?title=a_barbaric_whale_and_dolphin_killing_in_&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
J. Borg
Sep 24th 2009, 13:55
@ Anthony Formosa
I already had the "pleasure" of enjoying hunters' "hospitality" and antics at Bahrija.....
can assure you that it was more than enough!
If you have been hunting for a number of years, and claim to have never seen fellow hunters blasting a protected bird......then I'm driven to think that you hunt only in your back-yard!
Anthony Formosa
Sep 24th 2009, 13:50
@Mr Patrick Bavelaar, documentaries are on the news everyday with hundreds of people blown in pieces, fighting for their freedom. Since you mentioned The Netherlands, I'm not against Dutch people, I've been there and I worked with few and I tolerate their lifestyle, BUT trying to ridicule my country and jeopardizing my only hobby is not accepted. When the Dutch abortion ship came to Malta (Woman on Waves) to serve our woman nobody made any documentaries.
@Alan Johnston: You have every right to do what you like with your hard earned money, just tell us where you intend to go for a nice holiday in a perfect country.
Andrew Gatt
Sep 24th 2009, 13:28
@ Patrick Bavelaar......excellent! We can't wait to see your documentary, even though we can hazard a guess as to what it will include!
Let's try...........will we have generalist comments, collective accusations, the use of poaching incidents to blame ALL hunters, calls to boycott Malta, statements/posturing/preening by Birdlife and CABS, demands to the Government and the Police to do this and that and the other and so on AD NAUSEUM?
Will it be, like another Birdlife/CABS film recently released, TOTALLY ONE-SIDED, TOTALLY BIASED and TOTALLY EXAGGERATED; with no interviews with law-abiding hunters. No effort to put it in context? With no background reportage, No objectivity?
On second thoughts, Patrick-why-don't-you-mind-your-own-country's-business-Bavelaar, don't bother. We've seen and heard it all before.
Roger Flett
Sep 24th 2009, 13:15
Whilst I applaud the work that CABS and Bird Life are doing in Malta, unfortunately they are doing your job too well and have caused the Maltese hunters to invade Gozo. It is like world war three here, with hunters shooting within yards of walkers and ramblers. Its absolutely unbelievably dangerous, an accident just waiting to happen. I am not talking about hunting reserves, but public spaces such as Ta Cenc, the Xlendi environs etc. Does it really need a human to be shot before someone in authority takes this whole issue of guns in public places more seriously?
Martin Triganza
Sep 24th 2009, 13:07
I am no hunter and never was but I am in favour of the hunters. Some people love hunting and others love fishing, sports, dancing, etc. Let them hunt, stop this bull.... People have been hunting since the early existence of mankind. The foreign officials who come to our country to criticise and write bad articles against our country, should first see what hunters are really doing in THEIR OWN COUNTRY!!! Cut it out, hunting should be legal. If not fishing and other animal hunting should also be illegal.
John Inguanez
Sep 24th 2009, 12:56
@Patrick Bavelaar,
Dear Patrick, you seem a very professional man, but I would like also to suggest to you another subject for a feature, which could also interest thousands if not million of people. How about a documentary about abortion, they kill human beings....not animals. This does not mean I am in favour of illegal hunting, far from it. But I am against abortion and this would make a very nice and interesting documentary. How about it? Or you are well engrained in pro-abortion mentality that you dont even touch the subject.
You should include in your pro-bord documentary, the excerpts from the ECHR judgement saying that autumn hunting is not an alternative to Spring Hunting. Please do, and suggest a Birdlife spokesman to speak on it, because they had said they would respect the judgement. But then they would have no platform to get money from the EU
Anthony Formosa
Sep 24th 2009, 12:48
This morning again I have witnessed tens of raptors flying very close to us and nobody attempted to shoot even though we could not be noticed and I'm satisfied with that, however the CABS were on the other side and if they are honest they can also confirm what I'm saying. To show a video of one incident when yesterday and today hundreds of these birds were flying over does not proof anything, such videos can be deceivable as shots were being fired on game birds at the time, not excluding a small number of abuses.
@ Mr/Ms J.Borg, instead of believing what the CABS always says, I suggest that you and your ilk’s, instead of mudslinging from behind your PC, you wake up in the morning and witness yourself, and to prove you wrong I will be the first one to invite you in one of the best hunting areas in Malta to witness yourself, otherwise stop generalizing all hunters. Phone supplied.
@ CABS & BLM, you need to work hand in hand with FKNK and not against to succeed.
David Borg Cardona
Sep 24th 2009, 12:34
@ Alan Johnston..
Before you come up with the usual "we won't visit Malta" rhetoric & threats.. should you not take a look of what is going on in your own backyard first. Then maybe you will start to condemn the innumerable wildlife crimes in the UK and the heinous crimes committed daily in your own "holier than thou" homeland. For the millionth time, it has to take a patronising Brit to come up with such a declaration.. You guys are utterly unbelievable !!!
Alan Johnston
Sep 24th 2009, 12:04
I have been following this debacle for quite some time and my wife, myself, our son, our daughter-in-law and our 2 grandchildren have all decided to cancel our paid-for holiday in Malta which was to start next week and we have decided to take our business elsewhere. If it were for us, our relatives, friends and anyone who has some decency left in them should just boycott the island until something concrete is done about this criminal and violent behaviour which seems to go on and on and on in Malta with no sign of abatement.
Malta, the Maltese who hunt, poach, kill and trap these wonderful creatures of God's miraculous creation, the authorities, the Police should all be ashamed of themselves for allowing this carnage to continue to happen in the year 2009. Perhaps these people in Malta should take a step back and
just see what all this is doing to Malta's image all over the EU.
chantelle sciberras
Sep 24th 2009, 11:58
honestly I really can't see the pleasure in killing birds!!! jistghu l politici kollha jqumu min hemm ghax donnu f dan il pajjiz kullhadd rieqed raqda wahda A1.... alinqas ghamlu xi haga tal gid ghal pajjizna u mhux tithalsu ta xejn!
Olga Jansen Mediavision
Sep 24th 2009, 11:48
From:Patrick Bavelaar, Grafix Department, Olga Jansen Mediavision
We are preparing a documentary film about the barbaric and inhumane acts going on in Malta from both hunters and poachers. This factual documentary shows footage of birds being shot down and the uncivilised response our crew were faced with by the hunters and poachers concerned when they were confronted with the evidence that we had them on film. We are also going to show our endeavours to get the Malta police to take some sort of action against these criminals, action which to this day has not been forthcoming. Let us just say that much of the language, from official translations, is more than colorful and if the real-life characters we are exposing were to live here in The Netherlands, they would certainly be the subject of a full criminal investigation and charged with multiple counts of felonies.
This film will be distributed to various MediaSet outlets and aired on many stations throughout Europe within the next 12 weeks.
Hopefully it will arouse a more conscious Europe intent on doing something about this rebel nation of Malte with its unruly hunters and poachers intent on destroying nature's gift to mankind.
Tony Gatt
Sep 24th 2009, 11:41
It is difficult to quantify the amount of damage this sort of thing does to Malta as regards tourism.
Strange as it may seem to the "hunters" there is a large body of people in the U.K. and Europe who actually go on holiday hoping to catch sight of rare birds.
They are called 'twitchers' in the. U.K; I've no idea why!
Ireland benefits from this type of tourism because these people have money to spend, do no harm and it makes for sustainable tourism.
When will politicians wake up to the fact there are more votes to be had from eco-friendliness than from wanton destruction?
David Borg Cardona
Sep 24th 2009, 11:16
@ BLM..
The fact that you are doing everything under the sun in order to daily discredit the hunters (even the law abiding ones) goes totally against the spirit that runs between Birdlife Intn'l and FACE.
Since the ECJ verdict you have done nothing but throw tantrums like a child who did not get what he wants. Your preposterous accusations have been washed down the proverbial drain by the courts and now... to add insult to injury.. your Turkish executive director is blaring out that spring hunting is over and done with. Whilst this is definetely NOT the case, it leaves one speechless (to say the least) to see all your devious tactics put into action... Have a look at the comments in the Times and you will see that even non hunters are now doubting your modus operandi !!!
@ CABS.. In particular David Conlin & Axel Hirschfeld.. Last year you published a letter, in this same paper, to the undersigned saying that I was totally wrong in stating that turtle doves/quails are NOT endangered. Again you have been proven wrong.. Time will tell us how many more times you are yet to be discredited !!
J. Borg
Sep 24th 2009, 10:40
Andrew Gatt
Calls for complete ban are made because it is evident that illegal hunting persists and neither the Police nor hunters themselves are doing anything tangible to eradicate it.
On the contrary, when CABS or anyone reports illegal hunting - FKNK at all, try their utmost to belittle the incidents and also have the cheek to even try to imply that the persons who thanklessly and at their own perill, are trying to check this abuse are criminals themselves!
Such naive approach is simply inducing the criminals becoming more daring - whilst sinking the hunters to new depths.
At the end of it all, the criminals commiting the acts are simply sick minds, FKNK and the hunters who close an eye or two shoulder more responsibility for their inaction......nonetheless it is the accomodating political class that are the ultimate root of the problem that we are facing - notwithstanding the loss of wildlife, healthy exercise and dwindling tourism income.
And then they have the cheeck to state that they are making sacrifices to serve us!!
Franco Farrugia
Sep 24th 2009, 10:08
The silence of the Government and the Police authorities in this matter IS DEAFENING. This is shameful, disgusting. The killing of animals should be condemned outrightly, but the more so in such cases, when it is quite obvious what is happening. Shameful! Condemnable!
Andrew Gatt
Sep 24th 2009, 10:07
You use these incidents, disgusting as they are, to further your own abolitionist aims. CABS is committed to end ALL hunting in malta. Legal or otherwise.
As for Birdlife...... you acknowledged Spring Hunting in 2003, then you recruited foreigners and did a 180 degree U-turn, reporting Malta to the EU and wasting everyone's time and money. You said you will accept the Court verdict then you refuted it barely 2 days later. You said Autumn is an alternative to Spring, then the Court said otherwise. You said quail and turtle dove are endangered species, then the Court specified that they are NOT - based on the Red List supplied by Birdlife International, no less!
Finally, what do you think our Police Force is? Did you expect them to cordon off Mizieb with about 10 miles of police tape and bring in the entire forensic lab just 'cos you say so?