FKNK condemns ‘vile’ spoonbills shooting

Mr C Mallia

Jul 1st 2011, 15:27

FKNK, your statement is commendable but it is time to move on from these statements and become more pro-active. How?

1. Name and shame on your website all hunters who have been caught and prosecuted for poaching
2. Stop hiding behind the word "poacher" when in most cases these are people holding a valid hunting licence and so vetoed by a hunting association.
3. Stop all the sceptical comments. It does not help your cause as people will only take you less seriously
4. Look into other methods on how to soft control hunters. It will help your reputation. For example, during close season and according to the hunters' type of licence (ie: turtle dove, rabbit etc), shotguns can be put into lockers at an independent secure facility. Probably you would be able to convince the government to put part of the hunting licence fee as part of the cost for locker upkeep. It could be a soft solution, a deterrent, shows pro-action and protects your members.

Chris Finch

Sep 25th 2010, 01:00

Just followinf this link : http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091127/local/fknk-condems-shooting-of-spoonbill

From the article below and subsequent links thereafter, shows that it is only a handful of hunters - the 5 - 10 who comment on this news site- who really condemn illegal hunting. Follow the news stories back, it is full of people convicted of hunting illegally and yet they still hold a hunting license.

FKNK - if you are serious about your zero tolerance policy, kick out any person who has ever been convicted of illegalities. Including violent reactions against a direct FKNK edict.
Otherwise we just wont take you seriously.

Tony Zerafa

Sep 24th 2010, 17:18

So let me think ab it, spoonbills were at salina, cabs, birdlife knew about them, counted how much were there too, then they went to hotel/guesthouse , had some fun, maybe paceville too, then in the morning they went to check the numbers again? nobody stayed there at night? How much are these people earning? how much are they getting? nice holiday in malta I guess!!!! all free!! and whatever they say its bible!! they even said that our police are doing nothing!!! And FKNK wanted to do marshalls with them and they DIDNT WANT? How come???? maybe they wouldnt find 150 death birds again and 80 like last week!!!! If you have nothing to hide CO OPERATE WITH FKNK!!! Why you want to do everything BY YOURSELF???? So many questions can be asked, would we get answers?

Anthony Formosa

Sep 24th 2010, 16:26

Well said FKNK, however I believe that we are dealing with professional poachers, who either they sell their trophy or it's a sort of revenge against the hunting community. I cannot believe that a hunter in his right mind just after the Mizieb saga and when these birds were seen all over Malta will act like this?

M. Cardona

Sep 24th 2010, 15:35

To all those commenting for a complete ban on hunting;

this purposeful confusing of what is legal pursuit of our hobby with the illegal taking of protected birds is the primary factor fomenting so much unwarranted antagonism!

I am a hunter and never posed as Mr public opinion. Some commentators below are so obviously BLM members, and yet try to build an impression its the public at large speaking.

My perception is that if there were an end to constant antagonization by BLM at each and for every occasion, effective environmental protection would stand to benefit. Have a look at the most read/ most emailed section as opposed to the most commented section herein. I think BLM has cried wolf once too often. And that in my opinion is a real pity because environmentalists and hunters have a whole lot in common and there could be so much co-operation to the true benefit of our natural environment and fauna.

However I keep getting a nagging feeling that that's not the ultimate end, at least not that of the top tier within BLM! A pity really; that we are so polarised in everything and anything.

DVella

Sep 24th 2010, 15:10

Petty, meaningless words ! ! ! The FKNK should put its money where its mouth is and identify the people responsible . . . and report them to the authorities ! !

When was the last time they condemned one of their own members and handed him over to the appropriate authorities?? Or are we supposed to believe that all their members are holier than the pope??

Why is it so difficult for these people to understand the concept of credibility and how do they not realise that practically nobody can take them seriously??

T Aquilina

Sep 24th 2010, 14:21

Nothing short of an act of defiance. Hunting should be banned at least for the rest of the season whenever infringments of such scale and category are reported. This might just make those defiant hunters come to their senses.

Harry Saliba

Sep 24th 2010, 14:10

Whats this ,, trying to be seen to be doing something ,,, its toooooo late FKNK , your credebility is KAPUT and the only way forward now is the total banning of any form of hunting, that is all you deserve and not to soon either

m.zammti

Sep 24th 2010, 12:48

il-kaccaturi bil-qtajja marru jaghmlu rapporti lil ALE dwar min spara fuq is-spoonbills. L-FKNK tahseb li ghad hawn min huwa fidil li jmur jirraporta lil siehbu. Kitba bhal din hija dahqa fil-wicc

Lee Micallef

Sep 24th 2010, 10:53

Isnt about time the goverment acted once and for all to stop this barbaric so called "sport"

The neanderthalls who shoot these beautiful creatures need to be taught a harsh lesson that this will not be tolerated , so please if any goverment official reads these comments make a law that bans this pathetic act and create a punishment worthy of the crime.

THIS NEEDS TO BE OUTLAWED ASAP !

Charles Sammut

Sep 24th 2010, 10:43

The FKNK will only be taken seriously when it joins Birdlife and CABS to prevent this senseless slaughter. Until such time it is just hollow words.

This is not the case of a few renegade hunters. This is widespread. I have yet to see a large bird flying over the countryside that does not get shot at.