BirdLife volunteer attacked by trapper
A BirdLife Malta fieldworker was physically attacked and injured this afternoon by an individual illegally trapping waders adjacent to the Salina Bird Sanctuary, the organisation said.
It said in a statement the worker was punched in the face and suffered a broken tooth and a swelling below the eye during the assault, which took place in front of a police sergeant and three officers.
The trapper, BirdLife said, was one of a number of individuals targeting protected species and trapping during the closed season.
A BirdLife team that witnessed the activity placed a call to the ALE at 8.30 a.m., and waited for the officers on a side road at Kennedy Grove.
The ALE was unable to handle the report, and police officers from the Qawra police station arrived at the scene at 12.20 p.m.
As the BirdLife Malta team provided details to the police and pointed towards the area where the trappers stood, they came towards the BirdLife team and began hurling verbal abuse at them.
The police had to restrain two of the aggressors, but the third attacked the volunteer. He was taken to a policlinic for a medical examination.
BirdLife said that the site, located adjacent to the Salina Bird Sanctuary, was a known hotbed of illegal hunting and trapping activity.
One of the trappers on site today was already filmed by BirdLife fieldworkers on Friday, when he was trapping illegally and carrying a shotgun.
The team went to the site today to continue monitoring the individuals who had a track record of reports of illegal activity.
Last April, one of the trappers was arrested by the police after he was filmed by BirdLife volunteers at the Spring Watch Camp illegally trapping waders at the same site.
In 2009, footage of the same trappers was also passed on to the ALE after they were seen trapping waders illegally.
At the time, BirdLife Malta was informed by the inspector of the ALE that he would be charged.
BirdLife said that reports of illegal wader trapping continued to increase as wader migration peaked over Malta this month.
Active trapping sites in Delimara were also filmed by BirdLife Malta last weekend, although the police could not take action at the time due to a lack of resources, it said.
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Joe Xuereb
Aug 7th 2010, 22:28
2) So next time, Falzon, so that YOU do not slip on a dry flagstone, read carefully what you happen to be reading and then, but only then, attempt a reply. You can use your PC or you can write it in long-hand, using bird-blood and spittle instead of ink. With a sharpened quill from some unfortunate protected species of a bird who was at the wrong place at the wrong time.** I cannot be fairer than that. Your response to my previous comment of course proves my point.
I wrote this on a milk-shake. I think I'll celebrate with another.
**You see Falzon. This is MY namra. Using words and thoughts as a craft. It is important to me but it is NOT me. If taken away from me I would not disintegrate and my dog wouldn't suffer. But that's the point. No one can take this away from me. It's in my head. Maybe this is too deep for you Falzon but that's hardly my problem. Now watch your step - there's a crack in that paving-stone and a banana skin to your left. Watch it!! Geddit?!
Joe Xuereb
Aug 7th 2010, 22:21
1) @ Karl Falzon, I wrote my comment in Maltese (after 50 years outside the country). You thought you'd respond like with like. Big disaster. For you. I am writing this comment in English to give you a better chance of understanding and, hopefully, writing. I am not holding my breath.
Collecting stamps does not kill birds or pollute our surroundings. It is a gentle 'namra'. If you read my comment again, slowly, with a dictionary if needs must, you will that there is nothing wrong with a hobby. But I did say that once the hobby takes over, being stamp-collecting, belief in fairy-tales, killing of birds; once it becomes one's identity to the extent that if they hobby is taken away, the 'collector' disintegrates, or ends up in hospital with withdrawal symtoms, or typlically, he defends his hobby by throwing stones and physically attacking people whom he sees as threatening his 'namra' - then yes, one can talk of such a person being sick.
continued
Paul A. Camilleri
Aug 6th 2010, 14:30
@ J. Cutajar
We received a letter and promises before the election of God knows how long ago, YOU SAID. Let me ENLIGHTEN you and the LIKES of you. God wrote the 10 Commandments with his own hands on two tablets and presented them to MOSES on the Mountain, charging him to set them down on his people. this was done hundreds of years ago, if not thousands. Are you now to tell me that they are not in VIGORE anymore????? GODS's word is absolute and so was Fenech Adami when he sent us the so called promises in writing. EFA was Prime Minister at the time, and I ask, if one does not believe a Prime Minister then who do we trust? YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
j.cutajar
Aug 6th 2010, 15:25
oh yes I remember those bible stories when I was about 6 yrs old however I don't recall one of them saying thou shalt not lie but I do remember one saying though shall not kill.& thou shall not steal
.Moses is a figment of your imagination
Daniel Gordon
Aug 6th 2010, 15:47
You compare a politician to your God ????
Please. It really doesnt matter what position the politician holds, he is not interested in anything except to stay in power.
To stay in power ALL politicians will promise you heaven, earth and everything in between. Then when they think you have forgotten the promises they will do the next thing that will keep them in power. Its what they do.
Example: Boat houses at Armier bay.
Remember, most politicians are trained lawyers.
But to compare any politician with a higher entity, thats a real good joke.
For me the real issue is that the trapper had the audacity to punch someone when
4 (FOUR !!!) coppers are standing next to him. Now that is disrespectfull. He MUST feel the full weight of justice.
He obviously has no respect for the law, himself, his fellow humans or his environment.
Have a peaceful weekend all.
M. Zammit
Aug 6th 2010, 09:22
Naqbel li l-pulizija tal-ALE ikunu qed jipprotegu lil dawk li imorru il-bahar min minhuwa rrisponsabbli fuq il-bahar bil-vetturi tal-bahar taghhom. Dawn ukoll qed jaghmlu xi haga llegali u ghalhekk ghandhom jigu penalizzati. Minbarra fuq il-bahar ilftit pulizija tal-ALE iriedu jaghmlu mitt xoghol ieor, twaqqih ta bini illegali meta isir, traffic, football fi zmien, xoghol fl-ufficju, preparazzjonijiet ghal kawzi, jattendu il-qorti u hafna hafna affarijiet oħra. Min jahseb li l-ALE li ghassa mal-kaccaturi biss qeda huwa zbaljat.
L.Farrugia
Aug 6th 2010, 09:08
@Anthony Formosa, L-argument inti qbadtu minn siequ u dawwartu kif ried. Jiena f'ebda hin ma ghid li ghandna nirrapurtaw il-kaz tal-kacca illegali biss. Jiena qed nghid li ikun hawn min li qed nesageraw. Nirrapurtaw dak kollu isir hazin f'dan il-pajjiz bhal ma qieghed isir u hekk ghandu ikun. Jiena kont qed nikkritika li min huwa kontra li jigi irrapurtat dak li huwa hazin lil-EU. Nitolbok terga taqra sewwa dak li kkummentajt meta ikollok ghajnejk miftuha berah.
Neil Sant
Aug 6th 2010, 08:27
Once again the trappers take the law into their own hands. Despicable!!
j.cutajar
Aug 6th 2010, 08:01
Then if you dare say you heard shots fired they'll tell you it's the rabbit season or the shooting range, strangely enough you never hear them say it might be poachers, then it's time for their list of usual excuses
Might be fake videos,
What were foreigners doing in the countryside with a camera?
We received a letter & promises before the election of god knows how long ago
Should we ban driving & supermarkets
Do you eat hamburgers & chicken nuggets?
They do it in Europe why can't we? then they tell Europeans not to interfere & clean their own house
birdlife financial accounts & funds
Joe Xuereb
Aug 6th 2010, 01:51
Hawn min jirraguna li l-kacca u l-insib huma passatemp. Ma nahsibx. Daqs kemm hu passatemp ix-xorb li jwassal lil dak li jkun biex tant jixrob li lanqas saqajh ma jara. Dan it-tip ta' sakranazz kroniku sintendi qatt ma jammetti li ghandu problema. U jkompli jixrob u jirrovina hajtu u l-hajja ta' dawk ta' madwaru. Ghalhekk il-kacca, ecc. bhala vizzju mhux ghalkemm twarrabha. Jghidu li l-ivvizzjat ukoll lest jipperikola hajtu biex jakkwista u jgedded in-namra. Is-sakranazz tehodlu l-flixkun tal-velenu jispiccalek l-isptar ghaliex l-identita`, ir-realta` tieghu tikkonsisti, hi marbuta, parti integra ma' dak li hemm fil-flixkun. Ciss, x'hajja dik!! Minghajr il-likwidu 'bnin' (ghalih), jiddisintegra. U mieghu, il-kelb. Imsieken! Wiehed jappogga lill-iehor.
Karl Falzon
Aug 6th 2010, 15:58
Ghas taf taraf passatemp min vizzju? X'arukaza!! Ghalura bil-mentalita tijjek ghanki min ghandu passatemp f'karrozzi, daghjjes, muturi, kollezjonista tal-bollol (il-lista tkompli ghad-dellizzji kollha) u sahansitra ghanki min huwa dilletant ta' l'ghassafar (birdwatcher) ghandu vizju ikrah li fi kliemek nistaw nejdu li huwa marrid.
Nahseb qabel ma ktiebt fuq dan l'artiklu xrobt xi flixkun whiski jew spiccajt tikteb minajr ma irragunajt.
Vera zlaqt fi niexef.
Chris Finch
Aug 6th 2010, 00:20
It has now been proved that these hunters and trappers think they are above the law.
In broad daylight, in a public area, they commit a crime and then commit more crimes in front of police officers.
It shows 2 things. 1. Their thuggish mindset.
2. They know the law will be weak with them.
Why weren't they named in the article? Other people involved in assault news stories were named today. Name them so the hunters federations can demonstrate to us all their zero tolerance policy by publicly throwing them out of their organisation just like they did with the legitimate hunters this spring.
r sammut
Aug 5th 2010, 22:42
It is quite a disgrace for such incident to happen! At least this time the perpetrators were apprehended by the law.
Just as in a family, nobody is responsible for his brother’s doing; why then try to paint all hunters with the same brush? Much of the nonsensical scatter gunning (excuse the pun) by antis is totally out of place!
patrick zammit
Aug 5th 2010, 21:05
So the police took 4 hrs to reach the scene.
In the tunu incident earlier this summer, a patrol boat was on the scene in no time even if the incident took place far out at sea.
This shows that the Govt does not want to tackle the poaching going on.
I cannot see how the Commissin can trust him when he argues that he can open a controlled spring season.
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Aug 5th 2010, 20:43
Alex Ellul
Apply your reasoning to any other form of crime. Indeed we can well do without any crime, but do we ban everything and stay indoors because some criminals roam our roads?
People call hunters fanatics I wonder what they call your sort? Crackers perhaps.
Can I assume you are a criminal just because others in society are criminals.
Indeed we can well do without all criminals and that is why we trust in our police to get rid of them.
Alex Ellul
Aug 5th 2010, 23:29
MMB: Read again what I wrote, but this time with your blinkers OFF.
V Falzon
Aug 5th 2010, 20:38
And speaking of police, what about the officer caught breaking the law and wearing a balaclava to hide his identity? Was HE fired from the force?
Or was he miskin forgiven and is now strutting about, sporting badge and uniform?
J Portelli
Aug 5th 2010, 20:36
Bird Life you are the best...Thank you from all of us who care about our law order and our enviornment.
Alex Ellul
Aug 5th 2010, 20:19
@ Paul Barret: You wrote: "Poachers are doing so much damage to the good name of legitimate hunters and trappers." I ask: What are legitimate hunters and trappers doing to eliminate the rogues among them? All we read is just apolegetics, apologetics and apologetics, and nice and idealistic words, similar to yours. My opinion: Hunting is a pastime which the country can do easily without and we do not afford to pay hundreds of policemen to try to control a multitude, yes, multitude of rogue hunters. In my opinion, every time there is violence or illegal killing of protected species, hunting is suspended for a week 2 weeks, 4 weeks, forever.
Anthony Formosa
Aug 5th 2010, 20:34
The policemen ALE are all occupied to protect swimmers from irresponsible boats, should we also ban such boats, I guess we can also do without them?
Johnny Xerri
Aug 5th 2010, 22:05
We can do without all crime and not just hunting related crime, so to stop all crime a few suggestions are being added to yours.
1. All people will be banned from feasts and not fireworks will be allowed. Surely we can do with feasts and fireworks, esp since peopel have died through fireworks.
2. All people will be banned from using their own private transport and will be forced to use public transport. With no cars on the roads pbulic transport will be efficient, less polluting than the many cars on the roads, with much lower accidents.
3. Males will be given a chance to start a family by the age of 28, after which they will be castrated in order to avoid rapes.
4. Pleasure boats & jet skies will be eliminated, in order to avoid accidents. The Gozo and Comino ferries are all that is required
5. Churches/orphanges will be closed in order to remove possible contact of priests with children.
I believe that my sugestions are either valid or just as plain stupid as yours. Being rather humble I beleive that they are simply as stupid:)
Alex Ellul
Aug 5th 2010, 23:09
Anthony Formosa, read again; I said "Hunting is a pastime which the country can do easily without". Boats are not a pastime, but mostly a necissity, even if for pleasure. It's a family thing, it provides value time for the family to bond together. But hunting? It's a time when the wife and kids hardfly know they have a partner and a daddy. May I rephrase please? Hunting is not only an activity we can do without, but an activity we should do without.
Alex Ellul
Aug 6th 2010, 18:14
Johnny Xerri: You have already scraped the bottom of the barrel, now you have gone through it and digging beneath it too.
Just repeating the usual illogical, non-applicable pseudo-analogies emanating from the birds of the same feather, I mean the dead-bird lovers.
Johnny Xerri
Aug 8th 2010, 18:19
It seems that analoges don't work because you are only interested to blame collectively only hunters, but then expect all other members of society to be seen as individuals each responsable for his and her action.
You want to cruxify all hunters for the action of the few, but then you do not want to cruxify all embers of particular sectins of society for the actions of the many.
How many fireworks factories need to blow u before they are all closed down for abusing their licence conditions.
How many victims of abuse must come out of the closit before the church is senn for what it is.
How many corrupt policicians must be exposed before they are seen for what they are.
If your memery is good you will remember the case of a gozitan MP who's brother was alledgedly involved in under age sex (if not rape). When he expressed his resignation this was not accepted because the PM felt that he cannot be held responsable for the actions of his brother. Then how can I be held responsible of actions of poachers who are not even family or friends
L.Farrugia
Aug 5th 2010, 19:44
Il-kummissarju tal-Pulizija irrid jaghti rendikont ta dan l-ghemil min-naha tal-pulizija. Il-poplu ghandu d-dritt ikun jaf ghaliex dan id-dewmien kollu. L-ALE x'hin infurmaw l-ghassa tal-Qawra u bejn 8.30 u 12.20 il-pulizja tal-Qawra x'kellhom ta importanza. tajjeb inkunu nafu jekk kienx hemm xi pulizija f'din l-ghassa li ghandu licenzja tal-kacca jew l-insib. Jekk dak li ġie rappurtat huwa minnu x'qed jistennew l-awtoritajiet sabiex jissospendu l-liċenzja ta dawk involuti. Jekk tal-BLM jirrapurtaw dak li gara lil-EU ikun hawn min jghid li qed jesageraw, u jiehu għalih li qed nahslu l-hwejjeg mahmuga ta' Malta barra il-pajjiz. Li driver tal-linja zamm 3 cents aktar sar plejtu shih u anki il-ministru tat-turizmu dahal fil-kaz li dawn in-nies qed jaghmlu isem hazin l-industrija tat-turizmu hadd ma jaghti kaz. VOTI. VOTI .VOTI .
Anthony Formosa
Aug 5th 2010, 21:16
Sur Farrugia,Jigifieri lil l'UE ghandna nirrapuratawla x'jigri dwar il-kacca u l'insib biss, xejn izjed u xejn inqas ghax ghalik din biss tezisti go dan il-pajjiz u l-bqija miexi kollox fuq ir-rubini. Proset tassew. Poplu tal Micky Mouse.
Anthony Formosa
Aug 5th 2010, 19:26
Robert Sultana
Aug 5th 2010, 18:53
David Caruana, just what do these shortcomings in August have to do with legal Spring Hunting ?
David Caruana
Aug 5th 2010, 19:42
I'm surprised you even had to ask.
These shortcomings show that the police / ALE do not have the resources or the will to enforce the law in regards to illegal hunting.
Isn't that logical enough?
Johnny Xerri
Aug 5th 2010, 21:56
Well then we might also ask how many police have driving licences.
How many have bars.
How many work as private investigators.
Why stop at police?
We might also check how many people are self employeed part time and also work with the inland revenue.
We might also ask how many blm have conections with tour operators, tree suppliers, camera equipment.....
If the problem is an admisitrative issue than it really is not my problem....other wise the govt in taking your suggestion might just as well stop spot checks at parties and then claim that due to lack of drug detection parties will be stoped. Why not also claim that due to inland revenue overloaded workers who cannot manage to catch all fraudulant self employed tax evaders, self employement will be banned.
Is it possible that all the antis can say is ban & cry to big brother EU?
What will be solved by a ban. Isn't the season closed right now, yet poachers are still enjoying themselves.
At least if a season is opened hunters will target game birds, if the season remains closed poachers will target protected brids
David Caruana
Aug 5th 2010, 18:14
I would really like to know how many policemen are licensed hunters themselves. That might start explaining how a report is lodged at 8:30am but the police arrives at 12:30pm. I hope BLM or anyone can inform the European Commission about these shortcomings once they're considering if fresh legal action should be taken against Malta regarding Spring Hunting.
Laura Goodwin
Aug 5th 2010, 23:16
Mr Xerri you can say what you like but, at the end of the day you are killing OUR birds and they belong to the whole of Europe.No more excuses please and come in to the 21st century.
Johnny Xerri
Aug 8th 2010, 21:07
Please Ms Goodwin kindly explain to me which country has entered the 21st century?
For I was always more than welcome to hunt in many european countries during holidays and most of the time I end up catching 900 + of OUR birds.
It is only in Malta that I have a probelm with bagging a few birds. However, judging by the situation Malta finds itself I regard it far from having entered the 21st century especially considering that decomocratic obligations are often broken
S Bonnici
Aug 5th 2010, 17:33
Seeing what has happened, draws into one simple and effective solution ... A TOTAL BAN ON TRAPPING ONCE AND FOR ALL. Let these poor creatures live!!!
D.Bonello
Aug 5th 2010, 18:36
The majority of the hunters are against illegal hunting & illegal trapping. As for the Birdlife member, there is a saying; NO PAIN NO GAME. Im sorry for the guy.
David Caruana
Aug 5th 2010, 19:46
"The majority of the hunters are against illegal hunting & illegal trapping" Hahaha! You're sarcastic, right? If they are against illegal hunting and trapping and they know who these poachers are, why don't they report them to the authorities? P.S. It's no pain, to GAIN
Alex Ellul
Aug 5th 2010, 20:23
@ D. Bonello: The majority of hunters will shoot at anything that flies given the opportunity. If this was not so, then hunters would desist from Spring hunting, the time when birds are flying north to reproduce, and thus provide a better Autumn bag. But Maltese hunters are an egoist lot, killing the goose that lays the golden egg.
Johnny Xerri
Aug 5th 2010, 21:48
Alex if you had some ornithological-common-sense you would know that no matter how many spring seasons bans we witness, the autumn game bag will never increase since the migration route is totally different.
Spring birds migrate towards the african coast, taking the shortest route from africa to eurpean main land because they are in competition to reach the breeding sites first and risk migrating in adverse weather. Malta is far away from the shortest route and what we get is a dispersed pattern of migration due to adverse weather conditions. Thats why most turtle doves and quail are seen with SE, E and NE wind, esp if it is raining.
Autumn birds are in not hurry to migrate and so are not forced to take any shortcuts in adverse weather and that is why the autumn migration is poor, since birds travel over land and only cross the seas in near perfect conditions.
Facts are that Malta is not on a main migratory route, thus spring hunting will not endanger any species, and moreover will never effect autumn gamebags.
Of course I did not need to expalin this to you, but to those you tried to impress!!-
A Caruana
Aug 5th 2010, 22:40
D Bonello said "The majority of the hunters are against illegal hunting & illegal trapping"
LOL thanks man ...... good one !! :-) I needed a good laugh badly.
Johnny Xerri, the fact remains that, as Alex Ellul rightly said "The majority of hunters will shoot at anything that flies given the opportunity." Sacred truth !! Anzi .... the stra-majority !
Finally, the time has come when at least a very small portion of the vast illegal hunting activity continuously taking place in Malta ..... is being brought to daylight. Shame on the minister who does not reinforce the ALE unit so that they can carry out their precious work properly.
Last but not least .... PROSIT BLM !! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !
Alex Ellul
Aug 5th 2010, 23:27
Johnny Xerri: Your comment proves that you don't really care about the total bird population, hat you really care about is how much birds you shoot, no matter what. If I were a sensible hunter I would be the first one to lobby against spring hunting. Consider one thing: Decades ago, Autumn was considered as the best season for hunting, with birds migrating in much larger quantities than what we have been seeing these last few decades, mostly due to man's activities; pollution, habitat loss and maybe over hunting too. Increasing further the stress on migratory birds by hunting them down in the spring, when they re flying north for breeding and multiplying should be the last thing we should be doing. Egoism unlimited.
S VELLA
Aug 7th 2010, 16:47
@ Alex Ellul
From what you just wrote you just expressed hat you know NOTHING about hunting....you are one of those who want the complete ban and it is useless trying to explain to a donkey how to write, because you will never manage and explaining Spring hunting to someone who is antihunting is the same.
Egoist min jirraguna bhalek ghax ahna konna nikkacjaw xi 22/25 speci fir Rebbiegha spiccajna nikkacjaw BISS ghal gammiema u summiena, u issa anki dawn tridu tohdulna.....MIN HU L-EGOIST???
VERU MA TARUX TISTHU!!!!!
Johnny Xerri
Aug 8th 2010, 18:32
@ Alex Ellul,
Can you please elaborate on the:
'Decades ago, Autumn was considered as the best season for hunting...'
Because I have ornithological book collections (over 40 books) and I have never encountered such info. be it in famous books such as 'Birds of the Maltese achipelago - writen by serious ornitologists, nor by publications of BLM, and nor by international birds guides that show migration patterns. Some book even go as far as the 1850's and early 1900
Facts:
1. Malta never was, and most propably will never be on any migration route, that is why hunting in autumn and spring is sustainable (less than the 1% mortality rate required by the birds directive..
2. Autumn migration takes longer, involves more species, but much less volumes.
3. Autumn migration is frequent (but still very low), for starling, thrushes, woodcocks, wild duck, plovers and the rest of the hunable game list. However, is hopeless for quail and doves. That is why we were promised and why we expect a derogation for quail and turtle doves. we are not interested in any other species since these can be encountered in autumn, therfor when alternatives are present accept them
Alex Ellul
Aug 5th 2010, 17:25
I believe that one fine day, someone will lose his life in this never ending saga between illegal hunters/trappers and the few volunteers trying to do their best (which, without police and gov support means zilch) in protecting 'protected' wildlife.
When this happens, then we will start pointing fingers, but the truth is that responsibility will lie on the governments front door. Each season has its own story, but the main point is always violent behaviour by the illegal hunters/trappers towards environmentalists. Someday a shotgun will be fired and it will hit someone.
Murphy's Law states: If anything can go wrong, it will.
Take action now before it is too late.
Johnny Xerri
Aug 5th 2010, 21:37
Totally agree, find a solution,
1. Give hunters the seasons that were guaranteed.
2. Give bird watchers, green wardens (set up by fknk), and beef up police presence in the country side.
3. Take away licence, weapons and trapping accessories, from offenders.
4. make sure that bird watchers who abuse of media by stating unfounded facts get the same treatment as the illegal hunters/trappers (provi=okers are just as dangerous)
Alex Ellul
Aug 5th 2010, 23:18
Johnny Xerri: Is today's attack an unfounded fact? How many attacks by the hunters/trappers on bird watchers/lovers one must count before we can say that the problem is big, real and dangerous? A real and present danger indeed? 50? 100? A dead bird watcher? The more that you try to ridicule the truth, the more the truth bounces back at you and the more that your hobby sinks into the gutter.
Johnny Xerri
Aug 6th 2010, 18:53
Did I ever say that the attack is not real? If so please state when. On the contrary I said: 1. Give hunters the seasons that were guaranteed. 2. Give bird watchers, green wardens (set up by fknk), and beef up police presence in the country side. 3. Take away licence, weapons and trapping accessories, from offenders. 4. make sure that bird watchers who abuse of media by stating unfounded facts get the same treatment as the illegal hunters/trappers.That means that unlike you I see both sides of the coin. I want more enforcement, and harsher penalties as implied by points 1 & 3. I also asked for the seasons that were promised. Is that wrong, or abnormal to expect? I also said that in cases were media is abused, such as in the claim that Malta is the main migratory route (blant lie), that autumn is an alternative for spring (blant lie, as exposed by the ECJ), that when reports are lodged without any verification (such as when a marsh harrier was claimed as shot in Malta, when in reality the pic was of a poisened harrier in the uk), action is taken.
S Vella
Aug 6th 2010, 21:02
@ Alex Ellul
We already have lost lives in this saga, of hunters/trappers who ended up committing suicide...maybe for the majority the lfe of a hunter/trapper is not important because I did not see anyone condemning the government for lying to hunters and trappers before the referendum and giving us false gurantees and making this issue a hot potatoe. Before we joined EU it was accepted by everyone that there are hunters and trappers and Birdwatchers, and ALE did its job by catching poachers, but ever snce we joined EU all those antihunting raised their heads and pretend to abolish our traditional hobby which is practised worldwide.
Those who want to be reasonable know I am saying the truth.
Paul Barrett
Aug 5th 2010, 17:22
Poachers are doing so much damage to the good name of legitimate hunters and trappers.
These acts of illegal poaching have got to be taken seriously and prosecuted as swiftly as possible. If individuals are found guilty they must be punished to the full extent of the law. If that does not work then the law makers need to increase the available punishments and the Courts must give awards that act as a deterrent to stop the poachers.
M Vella
Aug 5th 2010, 17:21
Lets hope that the court will give an example to the rest of the cowboys
Antoine Grima
Aug 5th 2010, 17:20
This is ample proof that most illegal activities regarding hunting and trapping are being done by the same people over and over again. Yet , all hunters and trappers get the blame .
Ramon Casha
Aug 6th 2010, 05:56
I'm fairly sure that these individuals are known to the trappers and hunters who choose to obey the law, and they know that they're casting them into a bad light. Why not take action to protect their own reputation? The law-abiding hunters and trappers themselves should report these activities to the police.
C Mallia
Aug 5th 2010, 17:16
"The ALE was unable to handle the report, and police officers from the Qawra police station arrived at the scene at 12.20 p.m."
FOOOUUURRRRRRR hours for the ALE to pass by. Extraordinary, and then the OPM tries to fool all of us and the commission by reporting that there are the resources to handle wildlife crime. Shamefull and Disgusting. Let us see how much aggravated assault would now be handled in the law courts.
Robert Azzopardi
Aug 5th 2010, 17:07
AGAIN! Xi dwejjaq ta´ nies. I'm sorry to say but this is becoming really boring! I fully agree with Gordon Sammut, may I know what greater emergencies do the Qawra Police have to attend to on a Thursday morning??? With all due respect Qawra´s not exactly LA is it? Besides why on earth are these individuals blatently breaking the law in broad daylight?
Hey I forgot this is Malta
Franco Farrugia
Aug 5th 2010, 16:59
Dawn in-nies, iridu jifhmuha darba ghal dejjem. Ma tistax taqbad u tisraq affarijiet jew hlejjaq li huma propjeta' tal-gid komuni tad-dinja! Ma tistax taqbad u tisraq dak li ssib barra, ghax tahseb li m'hu ta' hadd.
Mela allura, jien, nista' naqbad, naqla' kull sigra u pjanta li nsib f'post publiku u nehodha ghandi gol-gnien tieghi u nitpaxxa biha jien wahdi! Jew nerga' nbieghha bi prezz u nzomm il-flus ghalija! Dawn, hekk qed jaghmlu. M'ghandhom l-ebda dritt li jisirqu l-gid komuni! Tista' tghid li trid liema qorti trid, imma s-sens komun hekk jghidlek.
Issa jekk dawn it-trogloditi isibuha difficli biex jifhmuha bis-sewwa, allura l-istat irid jidhol bl-istituzzjonijiet kollha tieghu biex igib sens ta' gustizzja fi hdan is-socjeta.
Semplici tifhimha.
j n ebejer
Aug 5th 2010, 19:56
Hu zgur semplici tghida. hafna bhalek jiktbu hafna u ma jafux kemm hu difficli dan ix xoghol.
Johnny Xerri
Aug 5th 2010, 21:32
Illegal hunting and trapping is to be deplored and condemed always, however claiming that any type of hunting is illegal is plain stupid.
Why not claim that fishing is also illegal?
Why not claim that wild mushroom collection is illegal?
Once we are claiming common heritage, why should certain NGO's be donated strips of land so that they can fence them of for most of the time?
Have you ever oticed that hunting is practiced world wide?
Have you ever noticed that birds, fish and animals are killed in millions at slaughter houses and shores?
If I had to pay someone to kill another person,, I would be just as liable in the murder case.
However, if I had to pay someone to kill an animal for me (butchers), then we all feel no guilt. How come?
Douglas Bagnall
Aug 5th 2010, 16:59
Do yourself a favour Malta and increase your tourism by getting rid of these people once and for all.
Doug
JOe VELLa
Aug 5th 2010, 16:56
Sir,
I just hate to admit, but we are in a cowboy country!
This is not what we hear on the news. On the news we hear police arrived on the scene in no time! Four Hours for the police to arrive it begs to ask why?
I feel so disgusted to repeat that old saying that the police are weak with the strong and strong with the weak!
S Vella
Aug 6th 2010, 12:06
@JOe VELLa
are you saying that poice are weak with hunters and trappers?
you must be here on holiday then.....or hibernating in Spring!
Law Enforcement was used against anything related to hunting, like taking down a bunker which could have been used for hunting, but all the illegal boathouses and God knows what are still standing!!
The police were in full force against illegal hunting and trapping,especially in Spring, the peak of hunting and trapping season, and if the law was enforced in every aspect as it was with regards to hunting and trapping, Malta would be heaven on earth!!!
Franco Farrugia
Aug 5th 2010, 16:54
This news comes as no surprise. Environmentalists know what they are up against.
Johnny Xerri
Aug 5th 2010, 21:26
& so do trappers, the trapper was lucky not to find a birdwatcher who would have treated him like the warden vs the lsa.
Guess violence stems from both sides
R Borg
Aug 5th 2010, 16:50
Shame Shame Shame on these trappers!
Ara jigux jiggieldu ghar-ragun issa wkoll.....
Mario Brincat
Aug 5th 2010, 16:33
now who has the guts to call these people BIRD LIES?
Stefan Micallef
Aug 5th 2010, 17:20
I do,it doesnt mean they have to lie all the time in the same way when a poacher is cought you always call us ALL poachers and ask for the typical extremist total ban.
Mario Brincat
Aug 5th 2010, 18:19
Yes for me you are all poachers because I feel that no bird should be shot at, and no spring/ autumn season should be opened, hence whoever is responsable of letting you shoot is commiting a crime be it the Prim Minister, Minister or whoever it might be, I'm sure there are 1,000's who agree with me
m attard
Aug 5th 2010, 19:59
What you feel is irrelevant. It's what the law states that counts.
S Vella
Aug 6th 2010, 11:55
@ Mario Brincat
And to me and all responsable hunters you are an extremist to put everyone in the same basket!!
My conduct is clean and never had any hunting offence and I have been practising my hobby for about 20 years.
Who are you to decide that hunting should be banned????
so if someone commits a crime with a car and kills an innocent human being, should all drivers be considered as wreckless and irresponsable according to your your reasoning? and if you are a driver what do you comment???
kullhadd irid jitfa l-gebla lejn haddiehor, imma Kristu qal "Min mhux hati jitfa l-ewwel Gebla"
I condemn every aggressive behaviour weather physically or mentally like we hunters and trappers have been going through for the past three years after being given a written guarantee that we will continue hunting and trapping after becoming EU members even in Spring let alone in Autmn!!
For your reference please: http://kaccaturi.com/eddie.html
Gordon Sammut
Aug 5th 2010, 16:33
What a disgrace! "A BirdLife team that witnessed the activity placed a call to the ALE at 8.30 a.m..." "...The ALE was unable to handle the report, and police officers from the Qawra police station arrived at the scene at 12.20 p.m." FOUR HOURS waiting for police! What if this was an emergency!! Unbelievable!
Prosit Birdlife...continue on your work!
J Oatmon
Aug 5th 2010, 17:00
The person who was attacked should start a civil action against the illegal trapper and the police, since he has reliable witnesses.
Again we have the usual Malta problem - plenty of laws, no enforcement and a feeble courts system, which is a joke to the public.