A BirdLife Malta volunteer was punched in the face by a trapper during an argument that broke out in front of police officers in Salina yesterday afternoon.

The volunteer was attacked after he informed the police that a group of people were illegally trapping waders at around 8.30 a.m. at Salina Bird Sanctuary.

The incident happened some two hours later, after a police sergeant and three officers went on site.

Together with his colleague, the volunteer waited for the police in a side road close to Kennedy Grove. When the police arrived, the birdwatchers explained what they saw and pointed towards the trappers, a BirdLife spokesman said.

The trappers saw the police and went over to speak to them. An argument broke out and the police officers had to restrain the trappers. However, one managed to get past and punched the volunteer in the face, police sources said.

The volunteer suffered a broken tooth and facial swelling.

The men are expected to be charged in court.

BirdLife said the area next to Salina bird sanctuary was a “hotbed of illegal hunting and trapping activity”, adding that one of the trappers involved in yesterday’s incident was filmed trapping illegally, while carrying a shotgun, last Friday.

It said another was arrested after he was captured on video threatening to kill BirdLife volunteers during its Spring Watch Camp, held last April at the Salina site.

“Reports of illegal wader trapping continue to increase as wader migration peaks over Malta this month. Active trapping sites in Delimara were also filmed by BirdLife last weekend, although the police could not take action due to a lack of resources,” BirdLife said.

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