BirdLife urges hunters to proceed against member for online ‘confession’

The hunters’ federation should file a police report against one of its members who posted a comment online declaring he had killed two protected birds, BirdLife Malta said.

In a letter sent to federation president Joseph Buttigieg, BirdLife noted the federation, FKNK, had claimed it would adopt a zero tolerance policy towards members who hunted illegally. In a comment posted on the FKNK forum on Saturday, one hunter said he had tried to shoot two marsh harriers and killed two bee eaters, both protected species.

BirdLife said the comment had been removed from the site.

However, other comments “insulting” and “threatening” BirdLife members remained. Comments included beating people senseless, be-heading and shooting members of BirdLife and the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (Cabs), who are in Malta to monitor the hunting situation, BirdLife said. “Could FKNK clarify why comments referring to illegal hunting have been removed quickly from their website, yet comments inciting violence against conservationists remain,” BirdLife asked.

When contacted, Mr Buttigieg said the policy was to expel members who broke the law. However, he said, he had not yet seen the letter and could not comment further at this stage.