Poachers target eagle and black storks – BirdLife

Kenneth Cassar

Oct 18th 2010, 12:50

Dear Ms Zarb Darmanin,

First of all, please rest assured that your suspicion that I am Glenn Micallef (as you told me in person this morning) is completely off the mark. Whenever I want to participate in online discussions, I do so using my own name.

Secondly, there is nothing for Glenn Micallef to ask me regarding IQ tests and results, seeing that you did not take my challenge when I asked you to take an IQ test and compare results. So what is there for Glenn Micallef to ask me?

I had no intention of getting involved in your debate with Mr Micallef, until you decided to drag me in. I would appreciate it if you leave me out of it, and preferably not insinuate things that are clearly untrue. Just to be clear, to my knowledge, you never took the IQ test I referred you to, and if you did, you never emailed me the result.

I am sure that you are capable of conducting a debate without dishonesty.

Glenn Micallef

Oct 5th 2010, 14:53

It is the last time I will waste my time replying to your posts. So I am going round and round; why didn't you reply to ONE, just ONE of the questions I put forward to you! As youu say PROOF not bla bla bla bla. (my proof is regularly in the news, with links, should you wish). That is going round in circles! You were clever enough to look up the word rapist in wikipedea, but you were stupid enough not to notice that 99% of rapist are male, quoted from your source. Were are your factual points? I asked you but you failed to produce them. My factual points? They are in the news every time one of your hunter friends is reported (by birdlife or CABS) to the police. For example, who shot the osprey today in Salina? A poacher? I will bet it was a man with a hunting licence, therefore a HUNTER. Another question, out of context but you might reply to this one: did you ever take an IQ test? As I would like to know how the score. That might explain a lot about your posts.

Glenn Micallef

Oct 4th 2010, 14:45

Again, you failed to answer all my questions. According to wikipedia, 99% of rapist are male, so using your reasoning 99% of poachers are hunters. All news is on the net know, so you can surley find a link to the news item you quoted. There were no poachers who had no hunting licence. At best it would have been suspended in a previous hunting offence, so it is still obvious they are hunters. Yes, ALL POACHERS ARE HUNTERS. Again, I ask why hunters do not report illegalities because they are in the countryside. You get the point know. Also explain to me how we have never heard of a hunter turning in an injured bird to MEPA when the countryside is full of hunetrs Can you tell me why? And I did not mention the dead birds or hunting offences as according to your likes the dead birds come out of the never ending freezer(did you guess from were the birds would have come in the first place if this was true?) and the illegalities are invented, but injured birds are live and kicking.

Glenn Micallef

Oct 3rd 2010, 14:56

Truly unbeleivable Sylvana Zarb Darmanin. I do not know many people who are out in the country at 0600-0800. It is hunters who are there at that time. That is why I mentioned the hunters' eyes and not yours or mine.

As regards the rape issue, I just reworded what you said. Let me quote: Using your same line of thought, since MAN rape woman, am I allowed to call all MEN as rapists?????!!!!! Also, I honestly never heard of a man raped by a woman. Can you copy the link of the news item so I can read about it? Also, since we are at it, you say that not all those convicted of hunting offences (poachers) were hunters. Can you elaborate to enlighten stupid and naive people like myself.

Johnny Xerri

Oct 3rd 2010, 11:52

The registry you mentioned shows what the mentality was before the birds were given protection and the law was enforced.

Those who registered their birds in the 1st amnesty had not broken the law since at the time the birds were not protected.

Those who registered their birds in the 2nd amnesty, had broken a law that was not enforced.

This also happened when the government gave an amnesty when 'some' people had not declared off-shore savings, either to avoid tax on interest, or to avoid questions on how the funds were accumulated, or for both reasons.

But nobody is disgusted by the money laundering amnesty. I know some hypocrits who aredisgusted by the amnesty given to hunters, but then they personally benefited from the money laundering amnesty.

In Maltese we have 2 very usefull sayings tha literally translate into:

1. Who ever lifts his arms has smelly armpits (some smell of poaching, whilst others of money laundering, or maybe corruption, or false witness, or skiving. Who knows!!!) (kull min jgholli idejh ghandu xi jxom)

2. Those who gossip about other peoples sins, must first be pure (min jiskongra irid ikun pur)

Johnny Xerri

Oct 3rd 2010, 11:55

What stopped you from reporting those 5 poachers?
What stopped you from reporting the poacher at Mgarr ix- Xini

Maybe they did not really exist.

Maybe you are not such a bird lover after all, since you did not care to stop the illegal activity and do your part in protecting the future birds that would pass over those poachers in the following seasons.

Maybe your like need poachers so that you can continue to sling mud!!!

S. Azzopardi

Oct 3rd 2010, 12:54

So it's money laundering now not abortion??? You and your ilk are hilarious Mr. Xerri, and it would be even more so had this mentality changed, but unfortunately it's still the same.

Johnny Xerri

Oct 3rd 2010, 14:01

Maybe S Azzopardi for you its hilarious but for me it is not. A crime is a crime, no matter what, but for many antis, poaching or rather hunting (because you don't even digest perfectly legal hunting) is the only crime.

Why is it hilarious that an amnesty is given for undeclared money and fraud, yes fraud because undeclared offshore banking with the scope of money laundering or tax avaiding is criminal and a burden on society and the tax payer, and yet scandalous if a hunter was given an amnesty to declare in the 1st amnesty unprotected birds and in the second amnesty protected birds for which the law was not enforced?

How can one mudsling hunters due to an amnesty, and yet redicule an amnesty given to money launderers?

You know whats hilerious? People who believe that the whole police squad is dedicated to poaching, when there are much much more deserving crimes to be tackled. Or maybe you benefited from that amnesty, and now you want to redicule it and brush it aside?

Glenn Micallef

Oct 3rd 2010, 14:13

Birds of prey, herons etc have all been protected since 1980. The amensties were much later than that. Please share the amenisty dates so the readers can judge for themselves if hunters shot those birds illegally. You and your hunter friends seem holier than holy. Do you have any of these stuffed birds since you are only a hunter (not a poacher)? And the mud slinging, invented stories etc: How many hunters have you reported? Please share. And do not tell you never witnessed an illegal hunting act. I did not report any of those because, I repeat, my father was a trapper, so I was one of them. There were hunters not poachers, as all the ones I could see from the 3 locations I mention shot protected birds, ALL. Maybe the situation is better today, I admit.

Continue denying the truth and you will loose more of the little you have left, just like the song bird trappers.
I repeat what I said many times, if there are very few poachers, 10,000 pairs of eyes would get rid of them in no time, and everybody will live happily ever after. So do it. And proof us all wrong.

Alex Ellul

Oct 2nd 2010, 21:54

Sylvana; Glenn Micallef demolished your strawman's argument in one fell swoop. Do not pick up dropped bricks because they will fall again on your foot.

Glenn Micallef

Oct 2nd 2010, 18:37

No, but the rapists are always men. So, all poachers are hunters since they have a hunting licence and a licence to carry a shotgun. This does not mean that all hunters are poachers, but as has been proved (through court convictions) and explained above, ALL poachers are hunters.

Alex Ellul

Oct 2nd 2010, 21:51

It's not the last word that I seek but the true word. The truth will set you free, freedom from bondage to that caveman's instinct, that urge to kill anything that looks like a bird. The truth is that we have amongst us men(bullies?) who, owning a license to hunt a few species of birds during specific times of the year, abuse of their hunting license (not poacher's license) to shoot and kill protected bird species such as spoonbils, eagles, honey buzzards, bee eaters, storks, and sometimes they also destroy hundreds of trees, damage cars, punch up the occasional bird-loving homo sapiens, and lots more. That is the truth and no matter what you and other apologists say, the truth remains what it is. Hunters owning a legal hunting license shooting illegally at protected bird species.

Johnny Xerri

Oct 2nd 2010, 19:39

wrong again!!! That list shows the points which make up a poacher. So if a person can be categorised under one of those points then he is a poacher. It does not mean that he has to fullfill all the onditions. By fulfilling one condition he is a poacher.

That means that not all paochers have a valid licence. Some may have a valid licence, some may not.

Stefan micallef

Oct 2nd 2010, 17:12

And why should someone care what to call the people who hunt protected birds.People like you write comments like these to give hunters a bad reputation!
How do you know that all POACHERS got a hunting licence?
Your comment makes no sence at all beacuse "THE POACHERS do ILLEGAL HUNTING or POACHING"
"THE HUNTERS do LEGAL HUNTING"

Alex Ellul

Oct 3rd 2010, 09:14

How do you know they don't? It is childish to think that a law breaking hunter would not first seek to have a proper license to hunt. That would give him a legally safe platform from which to shoot down anything that flies. If he is checked out by ALE while hunting, he would show them all his legal documents permitting him to hunt. Then, when they are not looking.....

Johnny Xerri

Oct 2nd 2010, 13:54

if this were so then how come we hardly ever get any filmings. I mean if all hunters were on an illegal hunting gallor day in day out, how come BLM & CABS never tally more than few mins of filmings. How come the general public never witness such large scale massacers as BLM & CABS portray.

By the way...please update your dictionary...unless you intentionally wanted to claim that they are not poachers.

from wikipedia:

Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.

It may be illegal and in violation because

The animal or plant is protected by law or that it has been listed as extinct or endangered (see for example the Endangered Species Act for the USA or the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and similar laws/treaties.

Check it out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poaching

Andrew gatt

Oct 2nd 2010, 14:05

There is an overt and highly funded and highly networked operation going on, run by members of the abolitionist and extremist anti-hunting fraternity. It's like a MAFIA style op. It has to be stopped and the government is not using its power to stop it.

Our government's lack of spherical nesessities is allowing CABS, Birdlife and all their buddies to attack Malta's tourist industry, image and citizens - using the pretext of illegal hunting as an excuse for their ultimate aim of "making malta a hunting-free zone".

SHAME, yes, SHAME.

There is a covert and highly organised operation going on, run by members of the hunting fraternity. It's like a MAFIA style op. It has to be stopped and only the government has the power to stop it. But our gov hasn't got the most basic spherical necessities to take the bull by the horns and stop the massacre. SHAME.

Glenn Micallef

Oct 2nd 2010, 14:42

I cannot understand why you have a problem with CABS/Birdlife if you do not condone illegal hunting. They help you get rid of the few poachers (as hunters say) there are. It is like not wanting a speed camera in Mriehel but you swear you not overspeed there. Get rid of the poachers and it will help your cause. when you attack CABS/Birdlife, who the public perceive as having the guts to stand up to illegalities, you (meaning a honest hunter) immediately loose the argument. Do you complain of roadblock on the way to rave parties? No, because you do not do drugs. And if you have children attendind the party you might sleep better knowing that there is some control on what substances manage to get into the party. I hope you get my point.

Johnny Xerri

Oct 2nd 2010, 16:04

Glenn Micallef,

You seem new to these comments & unaware of a previous post I made about my face-2-face with CABS.

"If they keep their distance & do not provoke I would not be bothered. But they do not come to monitor migration and illegalities. They also come to hinder legal hunters.

I have a hide under a ridge that is perfectly legal. It is not in a reserve, it is the stipulated distance from the road and everything is in order. Most of my fields happen to fall in the no hunting zone becuase either they are close to the road, or else they are in a bird sanctuary. So I have no option but to hunt from this hide.

What do cabs do? They stay on the road right above me and turtle doves simply deviate in the last 50 meters (just outside my reach). I stopped for a chat, and asked them if they had any problem with legal hunting and the way I was hunting (since I never break the law). They claimed that they were not bothered with legal hunters and that I was as clean as can be. Cont...

Johnny Xerri

Oct 2nd 2010, 16:05

So I gently asked them if they could move around 50meters to any side and not stay above my hide.I explained to them that they would have the same view as this was a ridge, and that it would not effect them. It would however, mean a lot to me as they were giving away my legal game.

Their reply was 'of course we could' then they started laughing and said 'but we will not'

Then I told them you just said that you are not against legal hunting and you take pleasure in disturbing me?

Their reply was 'you can hunt, we are on the ridge and not in your field, our disturbance is not intended'

So they were taking pleasure in disturbing me, fully aware that if I gave in to the provokation and entered MY OTHER FIELDS I would be filmed for entering a bird sanctuary (because the bird sanctuary happens to be on MY LAND.

Why didn't they move and film from above the bird sanctaury?
Why did they have to disturb me, when they themselves state that they are not against legal hunting?

Alex Ellul

Oct 2nd 2010, 16:34

Andrew Gatt: An extremist is a person who is ready to kill at any cost. There are many hunters who are ready to kill any bird at any cost. You are supporting them and apologising for them. If you cannot even realise this, then it means that your exstremism is even more extreme. Describing an organisation that is tring to stop illegal hunting as an extreme organisation shows even more the abyss that you inhabit.

Glenn Micallef

Oct 2nd 2010, 18:46

Mr. Xerri, if CABS have done what you described above, I do not agree. They should be here to protect birds and report illegal hunting. I am not trying to justify their actions in any way, but I think that FKNK's perisistance on accusing them of trepassing and questioning their legitamcy in Malta might not have helped your cause.

Johnny Xerri

Oct 2nd 2010, 19:47

agree that birds (protected birds not gamebirds) should be protected, but in doing so one must not isturb legal activities, or trespass, or break the law in any way.

So what do you expect from FKNK? Maybe to sit quite whilst BLM over inflate the situation and then not report trespassing and other law breaking?

Johnny Xeri

Oct 2nd 2010, 12:00

Dear Glenn Micallef,

No country in the world has eve banned hunting, or any other activity because of poachers or any other criminal.

Nobody should be tainted with the actions of imbeciles, idiots, cretins, criminals, poachers, call what may, but never call them hunters.

All I have in common with this scum is my hunting licence.
With the antis reasoning since I have a common driving licence with joyriders, I might as well be called a joydrive. I might as well be called a tax avaider since I am a part-time self-employed, and many self employed avaid taxation. I might also be called a rapist, because both rapists and I have the same tackle!!!

Poachers have to be stopped. But putting the noose around hunters just because of poaching is utterly rediculous, since open season or not they will still poach, and effectively the only birds to benefit will be gamebirds (which will still be killed in the other EU countries) and the only people to suffer will be law abiding hunters.

The ban speaks for itself since after 3pm it is illegal to hunt gamebirds let alone prtected species....and yet.....protected speces were targeted by poachers.

Glenn Micallef

Oct 2nd 2010, 14:12

Mr. Xeri,
you and a couple of others who regularly contribute their comments to hunting related articles here seem to be bona fide hunters. Honestly, in a certain sense, I pity you because poachers taint your image and you always have to end up inventing excuses to cast doubt on whatever Birdlife says. In my opinion, the hunting fraternity must get rid of these idiots. As I already said, this cannot be done without the help of hunters and their organisations. This is because during the open season, hunters are out en masse and they far out number CABS, Birdlife and ALE put togather. So if the honest hunters like yourself report illegalities to the federation/ALE the poachers would end up without a license to hunt within a short span of time. You should work in this direction and not cast doubt on any illegalities birdlife publish. Deep down, people who know something about birds know that the normally the autumn passage of Turtle Dove cannot be compared to Spring. To get this back you need the authority's trust. So, after all, the ball is in the bona fide hunters' court. YOU should act now.

Johnny Xerri

Oct 2nd 2010, 14:47

Thanks for sustaining what hunters have always stated:
"Deep down, people who know something about birds know that the normally the autumn passage of Turtle Dove cannot be compared to Spring."

Ironically BLM never admit this.

I never cast doubt as to whether paoching takes place or not. I know it does. What I also know is that the volume is nowhere close to what BLM state. Come on if 17000 hunters were killing thousands of protcted birds, they would be falling in heaps and filmings would be hours long.

I will always repeat, poaching was and will continue to occur. One can never eliminate the criminal mind from any activity in society. One can control of course. But controlling paoching has nothing to do with banning hunting. A practicle example of this is the amount of paoching on protected birds during the the 3pm curfew and Sunday afternoon.

I have suggested a reward system funded by the; poaching related fines collected by government, and the membership by FKNK and BLM funds.

A.Vella

Oct 2nd 2010, 12:32

Issa ejdli int ghalfejn dak il genn kollu u giri ta xi whud meta jaraw tajra baxxa... Din mhux ftit qedin jamluha imma hafna u ta spiss, ghax xbajt nara hekk. Barra min hawn qatt ma rajt tajra tfittex post biex torqod u skoss kaccaturi ifitxu fejn raqdet halli iraqduha al dejjem.

Toqodx igib skuzi aqbad u kun Onest li Malta hawn problema u injoranza ta Certu whud li meta jitfacca xi stork jew ajkla mandix cans tehlisa

Johnny Xerri

Oct 2nd 2010, 13:35

AVella, it pochers or criminals who do what you mentioned and not hunters. The fact that hunters and poachers share a common licence is futile and irrelevant.

Interestingly you mentioned that when a protected bird comes to roost they trget it. That is exactly why a ban will never work, but only punish legal hunters. At night it is illegal to hunt, and yet you mentioned that it is at night that they go to kill the bird.

Poachers do not need open seasons, time curfews, hunting licence or anything. They obtain a licence so just in case they are caught during the day, without a protected bird they can claim that they are hunting gamebirds, and if they get caught with a protected bird they will only face that charge and not the added charge of illegally possessing and using a gun.

So if hunting is banned, spoonbills, storks, honeybuzzards, bee-eaters+++++ will still be targeted. The poacher will simply be more inovating and use mobiles, radios, build hideouts in the ground+++...whilst law abiding hunters are at home chatting on fknk forum or timesofmalta.....So what and how will society and the protected birds benefit from a ban?

Paul Debono

Oct 1st 2010, 18:33

I took part in the BLM raptor camp last week - I saw two raptors killed - 6 being hit - and saw 2 wounded raptors being handed over the goverment vet. The evidence is there - just that the authorities do not have the resources or will to go out there and catch the illegal hunters.

Edward Camilleri

Oct 1st 2010, 21:46

I can unfortunately assure you that these are not isolated cases, I have witnessed various shooting at protected birds, also in the afternoon when there is a hunting ban. Please get it in your head, Birdlife only reports the incidents it witness, they cannot be all over Malta, therefore it cannot be that only the incidents that Birdlife witness exist.

Johnny Xerri

Oct 1st 2010, 22:09

Edward Camilleri has said a very important phrase:
".....I have witnessed various shooting at protected birds, also in the afternoon when there is a hunting ban"

This simply shows that a ban is not effective. By banning nothing will be solved.

Poaching can only be controlled (never abolished, although this would be very desirable), through serious enforcement.

Poaching would drop, I am convinced if proper hunting seasons are open, since some poachers poach because they were denied of their legitamate hobby as promised through a referendum and election, and have resorted to poaching as a way of rebelion against their stolen vote.

Banning will only increase poaching, since at present poaching is done for only protected birds, if a ban is in place poaching will also be practiced on gamebirds. The police would then have to target the killing of protected birds and game birds. They would then be burdened, and even more protected birds would end up dead.

Give hunters decent seasons on gamebirds, keep them occupied with gamebirds and so they will have less opportunity to hunt protected birds

Johnny Xerri

Oct 3rd 2010, 05:17

If it were for me I would also cut a straight line as you claim and for 3 years suspend all;

1. Court proceedings, and leave all court staff without pay, so that maybe the uncorrupt staff will report the corrupt ones.

2. Church activities, maybe the hard working priests and nuns report all the pedoes.

3. Self-employed and leave them without work, maybe they and their reps report all tax avaiding self-employed.

4. School teachers, maybe the honest ones will report those who abuse of sick leave (to have a holida abroad)

5. Police, maybe the honest ones will report the corrupt ones.

Dear gcForte, thankfullly collective punishments cannot be legally practiced, and although BLM have tried year in year out to cy for a replay of the 2007 collective punishment, governmnet did not oblige. In 2007 governmnet did not impose a collective punishment due to the honey buzzard "slaughtering" but because a week before he had recieved an infrigment notice from the EU, so an excuse was needed.

All activities in society are tainted by criminal activity, even religious socities, yet no one activity is banned as a means of controlling crime. Why should hunting be tackled differently?

charlie demanuele

Oct 1st 2010, 16:59

kellu bzonn imma mux fuq il kacca bis fuq kull ma naghmlu ta kuljum ton

marco meli

Oct 1st 2010, 16:43

sorry mr galea, i am a hunter as i pay my license yearly, yet, my gun lies in a store room under the stairs and it's a long time since it came out for some fresh air. Like me there are many more, since we do not hunt any more in spring. (not like other countries). sooo where you talking about serious and honest hunters????? You re too ignorant to distinguish them, sorry!!!

Mario Sammut

Oct 1st 2010, 14:15

@Andrew Gatt
and do you really believe that all the injured birds on the islands were recovered and that all hunters breaking the law were caught? Before hunters admit there is a widespread problem your credibility will continue to deteriorate and so will your members as laws will become stricter.

BLM please continue to expose these illegalities and keep up the great work!

John Betts

Oct 1st 2010, 14:18

Each single incident is unacceptable; and how many such incidents go unnoticed and unreported?

Clive Boven

Oct 1st 2010, 14:19

What planet are you on?

I. Gatt

Oct 1st 2010, 14:24

With all due respect to you Mr. Gatt, but the loss of one protected bird is indeed more then enough............

Jason Borg

Oct 1st 2010, 14:26

In scientific terms, that is called sampling, Andrew. I acknowledge that the situation is better than say 20 or even 10 years ago, but illegal hunting is still unfortunately a major conservation problem in Malta.

Glenn Micallef

Oct 1st 2010, 14:48

Andrew, the problem is that these 7 are what Birdlife have recorded themselves with a handful of volunteers. This does not mean that only 7 offences during the period. The problem remains that many hunters still regard protected birds as trophies and before this mentality changes the situation will not get any better. This happens every time there is an eagle, spoobill, stork or any other rare bird. So yes, this means that there is a big problem and the hunting community needs to admit this problem and tackle it if they want people to believe that they are 'conservationists' and that paochers are few and far between.

A Demajo

Oct 1st 2010, 14:54

Andrew the fact that it mentions 7 incidents in a week most probably means that there were around 700 incidents, you know that as much as I do. So please do not try to fool yourself or anyone.

j. gatt

Oct 1st 2010, 15:17

“The Office of the Prime Minister continues to stick its head in the sand, while migratory birds are illegally gunned down on a daily basis” he said

`an island 17 miles by 9, with over 10,000 licensed hunters`

Meaning 10,000 Votes @ election time, indeed quite a bit of muscle, and quite a bit of licence money too. Good enough reason for the authorities to stick their heads in the sand.

But the environment belongs to all and should be enjoyed by all.
For those that appreciate nature, remember this at election time, if you do, attitudes up top will change. The majority should win.

Lee Micallef

Oct 1st 2010, 15:34

A bit like seeing the tip of an iceberg...... for every incident that is known about there's always much much more that are not .....!

Andrew Gatt

Oct 1st 2010, 17:13

Thanks for the replies. As much as I detest poaching and illegal shooting, I detest the sleazy tactics and deliberate sensationalising of incidents. Birdlife are FIRMLY in bed with CABS (mission: to stop ALL hunting in Malta) with LAC (Lega Abolizione Caccia) and various other protectionist and extremist groups and contacts.

As long as Birdlife continue to lobby and pressurise to erode and abolish my hobby (and i'm talking about LEGAL hunting here), I consider them my enemy. And the friends of my enemy are my enemies too.

Sorry, but until such time Birdlife disassociate themselves from their own radical elements they get no sympathy from me. I've had it up to my nose with them and CABS acting like they have some god-given right to do what the hell they want, dictating left right and centre, and slagging off the Police, the FKNK, the ALE, the Government, the Prime Minister, Malta, blah blah as and when it suits them to do so.

Then they go stuff their faces with chicken, meat, burgers and fish, no doubt. Huh.

Lee Micallef

Oct 1st 2010, 18:20

Sorry andrew but your hobby is deplorable , killing birds for the fun of it whether it be legal or illegal is a just plain wrong. As for the chicken /fish/meat comment they are killed for human consumption and noteably in a humane way , not blasted out of the sky where they can die a painful death if injured and then stuffed as a ghoulish trophy !

Charles Gauci

Oct 1st 2010, 21:20

Keep on protecting the indefensible.
Birdlife does not issue a press release for every bird shot illegally. For example only this afternoon three morons at Dwejra (Malta) shot at and wounded a Short-toed Eagle. At Dingli Cliffs other morons shot and wounded a Red Kite. These incidents only came to light because they were witnessed by birdwatchers. It is useless to try to ridicule the press release. Fortunately (and deep inside you know it) both Maltese and tourists have eyes and ears and no matter how much you, and others like you, try to veil these obscenities, everyone knows what is going on. It is any wonder then that people call for a complete ban on this barbaric passtime?

Jason Borg

Oct 1st 2010, 14:21

This was never done and should never be done. I am not in favour of hurting innocent people through such deeds.

vincent busuttil

Oct 1st 2010, 14:40

I am against uncontrolled hunting, but your comment is nothing more than rediculous.

M. Cardona

Oct 1st 2010, 14:41

@ Mr Muscat,

don't worry they've been doing that for ages now!

Rgds

Andrew Gatt

Oct 1st 2010, 15:00

Their network of birdrains already does. Shame on them. And shame on YOU, Bert.

charlie demanuele

Oct 1st 2010, 16:06

qatt ma irrispondejt block imma lis sur muscat kelli nirrispondieh kif ma tisthiex titkellem bla ebda ressponsbilta isthi!!!

M. Cardona

Oct 1st 2010, 14:45

Mr N Pace(Nicholas Pace) ?

in the sure knowledge of your abolitionist perceptions under a different guise, shooting of protected bird species is neither "allowed" nor "condoned"! Hunters do not need these incidents to bask in media coverage. And you?

Jason Borg

Oct 1st 2010, 14:23

Is the bloodlust so unquenchable that you want to kill small birds as well?

Glenn Micallef

Oct 1st 2010, 15:01

Paul, interesting. Now, can you please copy a link were they say that eagles, storks, herons etc are shot in Italy? Maybe since they are not so trigger happy, they manage to convince the EU to get derogations. The more you stick your heads in the sand, and close your eyes to illegal hunting, the more probable it is that you loose more of what you have than get derogations!

Johnny Xerri

Oct 2nd 2010, 09:46

Mr Glenn Micallef,

You are being served :)

http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/italy
http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/italy/northern-italy-brescia-and-lake-garda
http://www.komitee.de/en/actions-and-projects/italy/northern-italy-brescia-and-lake-garda/report-camp-brescia-2009
http://www.komitee.de/en/projects/italy/northern-italy-brescia-and-lake-garda/report-camp-brescia-2008

Just goes to show that other countries who have poaching problems still derogate and still permit legal game hunting.

Next time think before you write a comment and not write before you think. Poeple ilke you cause a lot more damage to society then the poachers because you try and scapegoat and riducule hunters, adopting an only in Malta approach towards hunting and poaching, consistantly trying to gve the impression that hunting or poaching occur only on our island.......when we all know that huning, poaching and derogations are present in all Eu countries.

Franco Farrugia

Oct 1st 2010, 13:46

X'ghandu x'jaqsam? Ara veru ssib minn kollox, anke go pajjizna! Hawn min jitkellem mhux minn halqu, fil-veru sens tal-kelma.

M. Camilleri

Oct 1st 2010, 13:46

@ J Farrugia.
Kif tista' tiggustifika xi haga hazina bl-assenza ta' hazin iehor. Qed thallat il-hass mal-kabocci, biex ma nghidhiex mod iehor. Haqqek il-Premju Nobel ghall-istqarrija tieghek.

Lil-Gvern ta' Malta: Iktar sorveljanza !!! Ma jistax ikun jibqghu jinqatlu dawn l-ghasafr protetti kollha !!!

Ahna x'ahna, pajjiz tas-slavag !!! Maltese Caveman, fil-veru sens tal-kelma.

P. Camilleri

Oct 1st 2010, 13:47

what does abortion have to do with this stupid hunting??? no abortion doesnt justify these inhuman acts. both abortion and hunting are wrong.

Malvin Debono

Oct 1st 2010, 13:48

Dear J. Farrugia

I don't see were you get the authority to say stop talking nonsense when BL are providing evidence of what is happening. And what does abortion have to do with this? Yours is the type of empty which flares up debates for no good reason!

Mark Borg

Oct 1st 2010, 13:49

Mr Farrugia, comparisons are odious.

Just because we don't kill unborn babies in this country, it doesn't mean that killing these incredible and rare birds as a hobby to stuff them and put them in a "vetrina" is right!

Lee Micallef

Oct 1st 2010, 13:49

Wouldnt it be nice if nothing was needlessly killed at all ?

Roderick Spiteri

Oct 1st 2010, 13:50

Who's talking nonsense???

Titghaxxaq tohrog mal-familja u tara tipi differenti ta tajr!...
jekk jista jkun, waqfu il-kacca ghal kollox!... sibu hobby iehor jew morru sparaw fuq il-plattini!

Joseph Attard

Oct 1st 2010, 13:52

Bir ragunar tieghek nistaw naghlqu ghajnejna ghal kull reat.

Ma nafx kif iridu jissalvagwardjaw id delizju taghhom dan nies u jibqaw jisparaw fuq kull haga li ttir. M'inhix kontra l kacca, imma daqsxejn rispett lejn in natura jrid ikun hemm. Hemm ghasafar li tista tisparalhom ghax minnhom hawn hafna, pero ohrajn rari irridu nassiguraw li ma jinqerdux.

Darren J. Galea

Oct 1st 2010, 13:55

Your argument is infantile to say the least. What on earth does abortion have to do with the criminal activity of poaching for God's sake? Also please do not try to use sweeping statements mentioning "the Maltese" because most Maltese are against hunting, expecially poaching.

Oliver Fsadni

Oct 1st 2010, 13:56

I do not think that Birdlife are campaigning in favour of abortion.

S. Azzopardi

Oct 1st 2010, 13:56

What does that have to do with anything???

I think Birdlife actually is being quite serious and factual in its work. What are you trying to imply thru your comment???

Joseph Micallef

Oct 1st 2010, 14:07

J Farrugia what's that got to do with it!!! Two wrongs don't make a right!

N. Coli

Oct 1st 2010, 14:07

that must be the worst case of reasoned debate i have ever heard(read). So you can justlfy bird slaughter because at least hunters don't kill babies.

You would also be surprised at the number of maltese teenagers that go abroad on "holiday" and come back, lets say a "a little thinner". Just because abortion is banned does not mean it does not exist. And to link it to bird slaughter is just sick

R.Caruana

Oct 1st 2010, 14:11

two wrongs do not make 1 right.... l-abort hazin imma dan hazin ukoll, taqbel?

John Betts

Oct 1st 2010, 14:12

Birdlife: keep up the good work.
These incidents are outrageous.

Mr. J Farrugia, I am afraid I fail to see any relevance in your comment. And incidentally (since you brought it up): "the maltese dont kill babies in the wombs." - do you honestly believe that no Maltese has ever had an intentional abortion or been responsible for one? Credat judeaus Apella.

Jason Borg

Oct 1st 2010, 14:12

Too hard to stomach the truth, isn't it? Have you got problems with bringing up the dirt, and lots of it, from under the carpet?

AND ABOTION, LIKE ILLEGAL HUNTING, IS WEDESPREAD IN MALTA.

Maria Muscat

Oct 1st 2010, 14:12

@ Franco Farrugia: naqbel 100%

David Micallef

Oct 1st 2010, 14:22

Haha weve heard it a hundred times imma X GHANDU X JAQSAM!!!! Many people choose to dedicate their time to a better cause. Some people choose abortion, some choose poverty and others choose to protect wildlife etc etc. If you are worried about abortion you can choose to lobby against it. Allahares kulhadd jghamel l istess haga!!!

Corinne Caruana

Oct 1st 2010, 14:30

No...but they kill everything else...

A. Borg

Oct 1st 2010, 14:47

Tnejn hziena ma jaghmlux wiehed tajjeb.

F Spiteri

Oct 1st 2010, 14:49

What does this have to do with it ???

Andrew Gatt

Oct 1st 2010, 15:10

Tkellem ghalik, Franco. X'mentalita negattiva ghall-ahhar ghandek.

Neal Borg

Oct 1st 2010, 15:10

Franco, clearly he has no point to sustain his argument on hunting, so he skips onto another topic which is not related!

N Xuereb

Oct 1st 2010, 15:18

Vera ma tantx ghandu x'jaqsam, imma din iva: http://www.ilcacciatore.com/2010/09/29/veneto-dal-6-ottobre-via-alle-deroghe/comment-page-1/
Ir-regjun ta Veneto ghadhom kemm inataghu 4 xghur biex jasparaw fuq l-ghasafar ta l-ghana. JISPARAW ta! Nassab hawn Malta nahseb li kien jispara fuq dak ic-cucc li biss jipprova jispara fuq ghasfur ta' l-ghana.
Mela tajjeb, In-nassaba ghawn Malta tnehhilhom id-dritt biex jonsbu ghal dawn l-ghasafar, u fl'istess hin l-Italja qalulhom biex jisparawlhom.
Jien minix nassab u qatt ma kelli hajra nghamel granet bil-qieghda inhares, imma din ingustizja.

Michael Vella

Oct 1st 2010, 15:29

@ J. Farrugia Can you kindly explain what abortion has to do with hunting?

P. Camilleri

Oct 1st 2010, 15:37

Iz-zewg argumenti m'andhom x'jaqsum xejn ma xulxin.

Ernest Vella

Oct 1st 2010, 16:19

@ Franco Farrugia...ikolli nghid li naqbel ma dak li qal J.Farrugia ghax ma tistax int tipponta lejn pajjiz iehor meta int taghmel aghar minnu....Kemm huma kredibli l-birdlife li jgibu nies min pajjizi ohra u dawn l-istess nies li jgibu ma jaghmlu xejn biex iwaqqfu l-qtil ta trabi f'pajjizhom u jigu jghidu lilna naghmlu fuq l-ghasafar. Bl-abort li jsir, 4 t'ijiem ohra min ha jgawdihom l-ghasafar li dawn jipprotegu...il-blat??? Insaqsi jien...il-kredibilta ta dawn in-nies fejn qeghda??? Waqt li nikkundana kull gair illegali mill-kaccaturi li jaghmlu illegalita, bl-istess mod nikkundana lill BirdLife and co. ghal instigazzjoni li jaghmlu

Franco Farrugia @Andrew Gatt

Oct 1st 2010, 17:59

@ Andrew Gatt: Sur Gatt, li kieku tiekol il-kirxa mieghi, nghid li tista' ssejjahli b'ismi. Imma l-fatt li ma nafekx minn Adam, jekk joghgbok, sejjahli b'mod formali li ma jmurx xi hadd jahseb li nafu lil xuxlin!