FKNK condems shooting of spoonbill
The man who has been apprehended for shooting a spoonbill is not a member of the hunter’s federation.
An African spoonbill was shot dead on Monday after it escaped from a private bird sanctuary.
The bird was show as it flew beyond the sanctuary in Burmarrad.
The FKNK said in a statement that the spoonbill, in the wild, was a scarce and very irregular passage migrant to the Maltese islands.
However the species had an extremely large range throughout most of Europe, with a very large population size, and the population was not believed to be decreasing.
For these reasons the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) evaluated the species as of least concern.
The FKNK said that, notwithstanding this, it strongly condemned any criminal act that anyone might commit when taking a single specimen of this protected species from the wild by any means, let alone “cowardly and madly” shoot an escapee that would have been captive bred with devoted and dedicated passion, at no small expense.
13 Comments
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G. Grech
Dec 8th 2009, 17:18
BLM's attitdue is an act of despair which led to no where.
However, point fingers and condemning out will not solve the illegal hunting problem.
Johnny Xerri
Dec 5th 2009, 09:35
@ G Grech
At least FKNK and Hunters CONDEM these acts.
However, anybody who has eyes can see what BLM did during the Football match with their silly banner and what they do with their antics.
Not only BLM never apologised but show no shame and continue to fantasise aboout the main migratory route despite this argument being shot down by the highest European court the ECJ
G. Grech
Dec 2nd 2009, 19:37
@ Johnny Xerri. Thanks for your comment.
There is always a big difference between what is being said and what is being done. FKNK and hunters might condemn illegal hunting, but this does not mean that guns are not shooting illegally from behind rubble walls.
Anybody who have eyes, and wants to see, can do so at his own leisure.
Johnny Xerri
Nov 29th 2009, 12:12
@ G Grech
Yes poachers are a minority, as far as I know only one preson was apprehended for shooting the spoonbill in question. Had all hunters been poachers this bird would have been disolved into thin air with all the shots.
FKNK and hunters have always condemed illegal hunting. However, poacgers still exist, have always done and will always do. Just like drug dealers will always exist no matter the fact that drugs are illegal. Pedophiles will always exist no matter the consenual age limite. Illegal motorists will always exist no matter the number of police and wardens.
However, FKNK and hunters have always condemed illegalities.
Has BirdlifeMalta ever in its history appologised and condemed the overinflation of figures, the lies about the autumn alternative and the main migratory route. All these have been exposed as plian lies by the ECJ but BLM has never said 'I appologise for the harm that we have done to Malta'
By the way does BLM publish its accounts with the salaries of its active members, so that we can put our mind at rest that they don't have a skyhigh salary which needs to be justified by their false propoganda and fiction
Anthony A. Mifsud
Nov 28th 2009, 06:24
Lino, I fully agree, people like these should have thier licence revoked
Tony tal Mizieb
G. Grech
Nov 27th 2009, 23:03
I've got the impression that hunters are a small minority compared to poachers, no matter if they are FKNK members or not. It is shameful how our natural habitat has been blasted down by their shotguns, in the name of their selfish hobby, and permitted by the impotence of vote-thirsty politicians.
C Mallia
Nov 27th 2009, 22:05
If FKNK and the rest of the hunting associations are to be taken seriously about condemning illegal hunting then they should join forces on this. It is useless to just tell us that the man was not one of your members, that it is least concern on the IUCN list and that it has a large population size and any other excuses under the sun with the aim to dilute your condemnation. Thats how serious your statements are.
The end result was a spoonbill was ILLEGALLY KILLED and it also shows that as soon as an exotic bird flew out from its safe haven, it was shot at. Stop the excuses.
kevin francica
Nov 27th 2009, 17:44
I augur that besides FKNK, ALL other hunting associations expel members convicted of similar acts. I would also like to express my solidarity and encouragement to the owner of the park from where the bird escaped. @ T. Mifsud -- FKNK has just issued a call of application for persons interested to act as marshals. Unfortunately this initiative has been shot down by Bird Life Malta.
S.Azzopardi
Nov 27th 2009, 17:22
@ David Borg Cardona il-kumment ta A. Mizzi kien wiehed bis sens !
T Mifsud
Nov 27th 2009, 17:00
It is with great pleasure to learn the man has been apprehended.
Of course they did the right thing to report it and to condemn killing of the spoonbill.
I hope the FKNK monitors its members and shoots them out of the federation if they attempt to squeeze the trigger at anything illegal or at illegal hours. I wish the FKNK would have its own patrol to chuck these rogues before they are caught or splashed in the media, but I know that doesnt happen. Instead hunters warn hunters over VHF on the whereabouts of the ALE instead of hunters warn the ALE where the rogues are.
David Borg Cardona
Nov 27th 2009, 16:55
@ A.Mzzi..
Kumment vojt u bla sens !!! Domanda semplici.. qabel ma tiktbu qatt toqghodu tqisu xi ktibtu. Ma nahsibx ax kieku nies bhalek qas jghaddilhom minn mohhom li jhallu kummenti simili !!!
Andrew Gatt
Nov 27th 2009, 16:28
A. Mizzi.....spare us the anti-hunting spite, will you? Your comment is out of subject, pointless and vindictive. FKNK have categoricaly condemned this act, which was committed by a person who is NOT a FKNK member and who has been arrested.
As an FKNK member, sorry, MY hobby is hunting. HIS hobby is poaching. Don't you dare associate thousands of HUNTERS with this idiot. And stop your generalisations.
Dan kollu biex tghid xi haga??? Neither FKNK nor hunters are involved.
A. Mizzi
Nov 27th 2009, 15:47
Was he ever a member f the FKNK?
He seems to have the same hobby as the members of the FKNK...HUNTING.
Some hunters coud just not be trusted with a loaded gun and should never be given a licence to shoot or licece withdrawn if they are so irresponsible.