Battle to save shot Osprey lost
An Osprey that was sent to Germany for treatment after it was shot in the Salina Bird Sanctuary on October 4 could not be saved despite the efforts of the rehabilitation centre, BirdLife said today.
The gunshot wound resulted in reduced blood flow to the Osprey’s right wing, which had to be amputated. This meant that “Malte”, as the Osprey was known amongst its rehabilitators, would never have flown again.
The veterinarians considered alternatives to save the bird however this species is very difficult to keep in captivity and no Osprey captive breeding programme currently exist in Germany. The decision was therefore taken to euthanize the bird to put an end to its suffering.
The Osprey was recovered by BirdLife Malta and the ALE shortly after being shot in the Salina Bird Sanctuary (1). From the German ring attached to its leg BirdLife Malta learned that the Osprey was ringed as a chick in its nest on the 25th June this year. It was the focus of a conservation project by the BirdLife partner in Germany (NABU) together with the Forestry Commission, Nature Conservation Authorities, Power Line Companies and around 200 volunteers. MEPA had transferred the bird to Kirchwald rehabilitation centre in Germany the day after it was recovered.
Since the Osprey was recovered, BirdLife Malta alone has received a further 27 shot protected birds. Their injuries were confirmed by a vet and they were reported to MEPA, ALE and the OPM. The shot protected birds include a Northern Gannet, a Night Heron, two Short-eared Owls and a Purple Heron, the latter three species being Species of Conservation Concern in Europe.
BirdLife Malta called on the Maltese government to take concrete measures to clamp down on illegal hunting by significantly increasing fines for repeat offenders, and establishing a dedicated wildlife crime unit with sufficient resources.
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Johnny Xerri
Dec 2nd 2010, 21:26
Firstly I would like to address Mr Jonathan Beacom,
1. Until a crime is commited the person cannot be labled. All males are law abiding, they become rapists only when they rape. Moreover, only the rapist is labled a criminal not all man...even though they all have a common tool.
2. Secondly, hunting and poaching are very different. Hunting involves game birds hunted legally during the allowed season. Poaching involves killing (not hunting) protected birds, illegally.
3. The bird could have been rehabilited even without a wing. But tha would not have rewared media coverage.
Deo Catania,
1. Playing around with words is something hunters cannot excel in. Remember the illegal spring hunting, the autumn alternative, the we are not after a total ban, the referendum obligation? We have too much competition from BLM & the govt!!!
BLM having failed to abolish hunting on sustainability grounds, and EU legislation are simply playing their last card, that of tarnishing all hunters.
John Galea
Dec 2nd 2010, 17:41
What a pity to shoot such a bird in the first place, and to put it down because it has part of its wing missing.
Couldn't it have lived in a park somewhere? Do we have to kill each injured bird that does not fly?
David Mifsud
Dec 2nd 2010, 16:36
I trust the blood lust of the low life who shot the osprey is now appeased.
N. Pace
Dec 2nd 2010, 12:24
How very sad!
issa x'ha dak il-kaccatur? ferhan hafna nahseb!!
C.Curmi
Dec 2nd 2010, 13:15
Waste of money qas li kieku bniedem
Alan Watson
Dec 2nd 2010, 13:27
Funny how three little words can convey so much?
This is probably one of the saddest days for those who love wildlife both within Malta and everwhere else. Just take a look at all the organisations involved in the breeding programme of this beautiful bird:
BirdLife (NABU),the Forestry Commission, Nature Conservation Authorities, Power Line Companies and around 200 volunteers.
All for nothing!
Anthony Formosa
Dec 2nd 2010, 13:32
L-ewwel haga dak mhux kaccatur imma poacher. U iva ma ha xejn personali imma ta pjacir lill Birdlife u lil dawk li jridu jeqirdu l-kacca ghal skopijiet personali.
Deo Catania
Dec 2nd 2010, 15:14
Anthony, billi tilghab bil-kliem m'int se tikkonvonci lil hadd.
Jonathan Beacom
Dec 2nd 2010, 16:45
'Kaccatur' jew 'poacher'.....mhux l-istess haga !
Kemm thobbu tilghabu bil-kliem.
Dan kaccatur kien li spara fuq l-ghasfur.
Wara li spara fuq ghasfur protett sar 'poacher' pero qabel, wisq probabli, kien qieghed hemm ghall- kacca mhux biex jara xi 'sunset' ...nimmagina jien!
Anthony Formosa
Dec 2nd 2010, 16:50
@ Deo Catania, Biex tikkonvinci trid toqghod tilghab bl'emozzjonijiet bhal ma generalment isir. Jien kontra kull tqil ta tajr protett u kontra kull illegalita f'kollox, imma jidher fic-car li l-lenti tal-kacca hija kbira hdejn affarijiet ohra.
Gordon Bezzina
Dec 2nd 2010, 17:20
@Curmi
Don't you think that all life should be protected. In my opinion comments like these just show the ignorance and disrespect of certain people. I only hope that you just said this without really think.
I personally feel very sorry and only wish that more people are ready to donate time and money in the protection of our natural habitat.
Stefan Micallef
Dec 2nd 2010, 18:02
Always the same bunch of people,saying the same thing... Gordon Bezzina,you said it,"only wish that more people are ready to donate time and money " Thats what many of you want DONATIONS and MONEY!! And by the way no one ever went fishing or ate meat?