Illegalities abound ahead of open season

How can spring hunting be allowed afresh after seasons of illegalities which have not been curbed? And how is it expected to be kept under control when it is very obvious that the authorities cannot keep up with the widespread illegalities all around the countryside both in inaccessible areas such as beneath Ras Il-Pellegrin and Dingli Cliffs and also in outright blatant abuse and trespassing on public land in Malta’s only natural national park in Mellieħa?

It also seems that recent incidents have been easily forgotten – just a few weeks ago rare spoonbills were shot in the south of Malta as they tried to fly in to land in their fight against gale force winds. And this was in the closed season and a protected bird. What can we expect from an open season?!

Over the past few weeks I have encountered and reported various illegal trapping sites and I have also been showered with lead while walking along a road in the evening after sunset. I will now expect the usual hunters to write in saying that I am imagining all this... they may be happy to know I was accompanied by several students, both local and foreign, when we came across freshly laid clap nets.

I had just spent a whole morning explaining all the nature conservation efforts taking place locally and how illegal incidents should be on the decline...