Shot protected bird at Simar

M. Cardona

Oct 8th 2009, 08:54

May I ask how a bird with injuries to its "left and right" wings, flaps its wings so naturally. Yes its limping and yes its right leg could have sustained a pellet wound. But other than that, there are no evident further wounds. Definitely none to the wings (otherwise it wouldn't flap them in unison) and none to the neck. BLM Why sensationalise? TOM why divulge such sensationalism?

BLM that bird was not mortally wounded, and judging by the way it was holding itself, could easily have been recovered and aided for subsequent release. There is no way I will ever believe that the bird in this footage died. If it did, shame on you for denying assistance!

Franco Farrugia

Oct 3rd 2009, 13:35

'To think that there are men capable of killing this harmless little songster (the skylark)! ... Their voices fill the whole sky overhead with gladness but their poor little dead bodies are so small that a child can clasp them in the palm of his hand, and yet we eat them with gluttony as though there was nothing else to eat. We shudder at the very word of cannibalism and we hang the savage who wants to indulge in this habit of his ancestors, but the murdering and eating of little birds remains unpunished.'
'You are an idealist, my dear doctor.'
'No, they call it sentimentality and only sneer at it. Let them sneeer as much as they like, I do not care. But mark my words! The time will come when they will cease to sneer, when they will understand that the animal world was placed by the Creator under our protection, and not at our mercy: that animals have as much right to live as we have, and that our right to take their lives is strictly limited to our right of defence and our right of existence.'
The Story of San Michele, by Axel Munthe.

Stephen Mangion

Oct 3rd 2009, 09:40

No to Hunting. This is absurd. I never saw one myself. Why would someone else decide that fro me that I cant be allowed to see it mylsef too. The nature is fro everyone to enjoy - no one has got the right to destroy it. We need to stop this nonsense.

Raymond Sammut

Oct 3rd 2009, 05:35

To those who ask for more convincing evidence: please remember how hard it is to produce wildlife footage. People who set out producing wildlife documentaries can tell us all about it. Everyone knows, for example, the renowned David Attenborough, and how often he speaks of the complexities involved.

What these bird-life people are doing is quite extraordinary. They are showing us not even the tip of the iceberg. This bird will have reached Malta from the south (Dingli end), and then traversed over Malta in a northerly direction towards the upper tail of Malta. Try imagine what this bird will have gone through, knowing what we know about 'traditional' Maltese fully-licensed senter-happy bird-shooters.

This is animal cruelty in its lowest form possible. This abomination has been going on not for years, but for decades on end with the acquiescence of Malta's politicians on both sides of politics. Its most shocking aspect is that it has been the most well kept secret on mighty Malta. I like to thank the bird-life people, and ask them to forget about the bird-shooters and the bird-trappers. Please keep doing your best at collecting your evidence, and take the Maltese government to court.

r sammut

Oct 2nd 2009, 22:05

@carmel james
That will be the day Sir! You are not the first to ‘urge birdlife that next time a wounded bird is found fknk is informed and they should pick up the bird up’! FKNK has all along been asking BirdLife to submit all such cases to at least an agreed independent examiner, if not direct to FKNK.

Had BLM been all transparency they would have readily obliged to such wishes! Yet BLM has only its own reasons why it is always holding back on this!

carmel james

Oct 2nd 2009, 20:50

continue covering up for illegal hunting.....you will never learn....just condemn such acts..and you will be more credible.

So, as usual, you think this is all made up..i urge birdlife that next time a wounded bird is found fknk is informed and they shouild pick the bird up...you must be ashamed of yourself whoever writes in favour of illegal hunting and against birdlife. You are just making people turn against you.

I appeal to birdlife that if they have photos of the wounds on this bird just show them....some people will learn to shut up and they will have to apologize for claiming that these illegalities are just made up...hitting a wire, threading on glass.. you think we are stupid....

Michael A. Porter

Oct 2nd 2009, 20:35

Komplu itfghu il-gebla fuq saqajkom gheziez kaccaturi. Ma tridux titghallmu qiskom!

Anthony Formosa

Oct 2nd 2009, 19:36

Please calm down, can anyone explain to me, how the alleged shot bird made it from Dingli to Simar, assuming injured and crossed the land flying in low range, making it easier to reach, and the other two which normally they fly together landed in Ghadira safe and sound.

Regarding BLM accusations, one may note that from so many footages, eventually they have only two footages showing the shooting down of a Harrier and a Buzzard. For the benefit of the readers when a shot is fired, and it happen that a bird is passing over, the same bird will react to that noise, but it doesn't mean that the bird was shot at. Such footages can mislead easily.

Jason Borg

Oct 2nd 2009, 17:49

What makes this episode more sickening is the hunters-conservationists (!!!!!!) comments on the FKNK website: http://forum.huntinginmalta.org.mt//YaBB.pl?num=1254487648

V. Spiteri

Oct 2nd 2009, 17:41

Hunters will never learn...their 'sport' is being threatened yet they insist on shooting protected species, all the while shooting themselves in the foot.

On another note..seeing that beatiful bird wounded makes me wish hunting is stripped away. Maybe we can set up a fund so those hunters afflicted with the dreaded 'despression' can get their medicine for free.

adrian aquilina

Oct 2nd 2009, 17:13

disgusting,unacceptable behaviour..hunting should be banned as they cant behave according to the law.......

Davis wilfred

Oct 2nd 2009, 16:51

you so called hunters should be ashamed of yourselves....I am so gutted and full up with anger right now...better i dont spill it all out on you guys....shame on all you lots....seeing this video and imagining the hell the poor bird is made to go through cause of some stupid few lots...about time your Government take a strong stand by banning Hunting for Good....This is just too heartlless....a big shame on you hunters.....

D.Caruana

Oct 2nd 2009, 16:50

Let us give credit to birdlife and say that the bird's broken leg was inflicted through a gunshot. Fine. and obviously unaccetable.
But why exagerate every time??!!!
That bird has no wounds to the neck nor the wings. It is clearly obvious!!!!

Joe Camilleri

Oct 2nd 2009, 16:25

".....with a shattered leg and several shotgun injuries, including to the neck and the lower mandible of the beak and the left and right wing ..." well from the videofootage it doesn't seem that it had all those injuries. With all the said injuries, an egret would have died immediatly. In fact there is no blood on its wings as stated. (maybe it just stepped on a piece of glass)

While condemming every illegal act, news like these are not having the effect that BLM wants so they can abolish hunting.
Also note how the Simar gate is closed, not like mizeb, OPEN to the public.

Chris Finch

Oct 2nd 2009, 16:15

And these incidents are only the ones witnessed. Probably just the tip of the iceberg.

How can the FKNK claim that these incidents are rare and isolated?

J.Bonnici

Oct 2nd 2009, 16:06

I guess the Federation will now say that there is no proof that the bird was injured by the hunters. Well, the bird could have tripped in its own feet or maybe lost its balance, crashlanded and suffered a bad fall... anything is possible these days.

G. Grech

Oct 2nd 2009, 16:05

Dr. Gonzi,

please stop this senseless hunting.

Daniel Cardona

Oct 2nd 2009, 16:00

are we gonna have a report every time we find a dead bird ? i think there are a lot more important things in this country no ?

Andrew Vella

Oct 2nd 2009, 15:57

The video proves nothing included in the story - all I see is a limping bird - and the cause might be something else. Might as well do without the video I guess!

J Farrugia

Oct 2nd 2009, 15:45

These are all lies without proof. By incresing figures no one will really care about what this birdlife is actually talking about. hundreds, thousands milluions, what truly is the reality? They dont even know ...just blabbering words and words.

D Gauci

Oct 2nd 2009, 15:37

Times of Malta please stop posting such news. I am not a hunter or a supporter of it but I am fed up of hearing such false propaganda. All I saw was a bird with a limp, no gun shot wounds no blood just plain and simple nothing. We Maltese always have to target someone and an ongoing target is these hunters. All people can search for themselves that we are not on a major migratory route so even if all the hunters would be banned no great amount of birds would be seen. Why don't we protest against much more scandalous things with such heart. Birdlife you lost credibility a while ago. I would like to know what financial benefits they are reeling in from the EU to sponsor 'holidays' for these foreigners.

f vincenti

Oct 2nd 2009, 15:35

I oppose hunting & trapping. What motivates someone to shoot birds who have weathered miles & storms to get here, let alone destroy protected species on the decline? I am sure that not all hunters are like those who defy the law so before you embark on a personal attack, please note that my comments are directed at the unworthy, not intelligent hunters who respect boundaries. I am sure that we all agree that we've seen enough indiscriminate killing. The criminals walk away with some sordid satisfaction of having gotten away with murder & feel good about spiting bird lovers & the law. And for what? Sadly, if they had put as much effort into their education, I am sure the we'd have a better society & environment for all, including their children. Are the Hunting Federation & the true gentlemen members of the associations ready to show solidarity by handing in their licences (or calling for an immediate withdrawal of all licences), until the poachers are caught? It is afterall, a case of a few rotten apples spoiling it all for them and for the ones who abide by the rules.

P. Camilleri

Oct 2nd 2009, 15:19

And here we go again.... Everyday we read of reports about illegal shooting of protected birds. Where are the authorities?? Wake up and smell the coffee!! Why is it that these things are left unpunished? why is it that the rules are broken, everyone is aware of that, and no action is taken??

R. Marmara

Oct 2nd 2009, 15:17

Unfortunately the hunting federation does not have the skills and resources to educate and manage its members because otherwise such incidents would not be on the rise. Therefore hunting should be abolished once and for all.

M.SAID

Oct 2nd 2009, 15:16

Well, first of all I condemm this situation IF someone shot this bird.

But I ask...where are the injuries in the neck and right and left wing?????????
As when the bird flapps its wings everything is normal.........and the neck injury???????
On a perfectly white bird like that some red blood will be seen.....I think, no???????????????
WHEN AND HOW did the bird die?...........as strangely enough, like other times, no video footage is shown.
Regarding the shattered leg........its not shattered at all. If it was shattered it would be dangling. Maybe the bird hit his leg with a tree or something else.
Birdlife....................proof of what you are saying PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alex Ellul

Oct 2nd 2009, 15:15

The authorities should, must stop the massacre. STOP HUNTING NOW. WE, THE PEOPLE DEMAND IT. Justice demands it and common sense too, until at least real laws are enacted to protect the diminishing bird populations before we Maltese make them go the way of the dodo. But It seems that it's the other way round, is, that justice has gone extinct.

S Sammut

Oct 2nd 2009, 15:01

Do FKNK need a police investigation on this incident too, so it is then confirmed that a hunter shot it? Otherwise, who shot the bird? Some Alien? Or an F16 fighter plane?

J Theuma

Oct 2nd 2009, 14:56

This is ridiculous and unaccaptable. Please authorities do something. 201 protected birds killed in just 2 days!!!!! Its time to stop hunting... all year round. These barbarians never learn. So please make hunting history!!!! Now!!!!

Julian caruana

Oct 2nd 2009, 14:53

This is become a farce , Is it possible the times has no other issues to investigate, like money laundering, drugs, etc etc etc.

A limping bird?? so what maybe he flew into all the electrical cables while flying in our country side, how come no footage of the death bird?? that would be more credible. Cant you see the damage caused by these allegations.

T Mifsud

Oct 2nd 2009, 14:50

A large stork has been seen hovering over Qormi. Will the BLM, CABs, ALE and all relevant authorities make sure it is monitored and followed?!

J Pace

Oct 2nd 2009, 14:48

Purely disgusting! When is the government going to take a seriuos step towards these highly irresponsible hunters who perform these illegal acts? What is the FKNK doing about this since they claimed zero tolerance to illegal hunting? Well done BirdLife for all your fearless hardwork although you are up against trigger happy individuals.

C. Dimech

Oct 2nd 2009, 14:46

Absolutely sickening!! If only hunters would one day fly....I'd be the first 'scanning the sky' with my shotgun!

C.Sammut

Oct 2nd 2009, 14:44

Mr Lino Farrugia was this a setup too?? It breaks my heart that I have to witness such destruction of beauty by a few ignorant men who call themselves conservationists and who keep on insisting they have a right to it!