BirdLife asks police to investigate FKNK official's comments
BirdLide Malta said today that following FKNK's claim yesterday that some of its members were suffering from psychological disorders and were on anti-depressants, it was calling on the police commissioner to immediately investigate who these FKNK...
BirdLide Malta said today that following FKNK's claim yesterday that some of its members were suffering from psychological disorders and were on anti-depressants, it was calling on the police commissioner to immediately investigate who these FKNK members were, and if needed, suspend their guns and weapons licences subject to psychiatric advice.
The society in a statement said it was being inundated with reports of illegal shooting.
It said its Malta's Raptor Camp filmed a Marsh Harrier and a Honey-buzzard being shot down in different locations this morning. The organisation also received two shot protected birds following yesterday afternoon's widespread shooting on protected birds particularly in the south of Malta.
The shot Marsh harrier was filmed by BirdLife Malta Executive Director Tolga Temuge who was accompanied by a local journalist at Has-Saptan. There were at least 6 six shots fired on the bird which was hit several times and fell into a private hunting site 50 meters away. Shortly after the police was called, two cars left the hunting lodge and drew away. The police had still not arrived on the scene 45 minutes after the call was made.
The killing of the Honey-buzzard was filmed by a team in Handaq early this morning. The bird was instantly killed after taking a shot. The team called the ALE and the police emergency but there was no reply.
Raptor Camp teams that covered only a small part of Malta reported the shooting of at least 16 additional protected birds, six of which were seen falling of the sky, BirdLife said.
It added that a woman, who was taking a walk at Birzebbuga valley, told BirdLife that she saw many Honey-buzzards shot down. Another woman who was crying on the phone reported shooting of "big birds" in residential area in Attard. BirdLife even received calls of poachers shooting from the roofs of residences.
"Despite overwhelming evidence of the scale of illegal hunting and the recent discovery of 201 dead protected birds at Mizieb, the Office of the Prime Minister remains silent. The shots are clearly not being heard from Castille but the usual impotent threats about hunters' votes' are," Geoffrey Saliba, BirdLife Malta Campaigns Coordinator, said.
(Video footage by BirdLife)