Endangered bird shot in Malta, flown to Germany for rehab

Charles Sammut

May 6th 2011, 20:45

I hope that this bird makes a full recovery. I found it in my back garden trying in vain to fly due toa shotgun wound under one of its wings. Two members of Birdlife came to collect it within minutes. These people are really dedicated to the welfare of these magnificent birds.

Here is the bird waiting to be collected. http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh155/calypsophotos/PallidHarrier.jpg

Mr Andrea Damato

May 6th 2011, 16:59

@ Antis/abolitionists/Birdlife & co- If you really and honestly think that by totally banning legal hunting all year round, these incidents will stop , then you are really living on the moon!!!

Incidents of this sort happen worldwide, even in the holier than though countries like the UK and Germany, where legal hunting is practised by millions of hunters and where enforcement and penalties for defaulters are very harsh. Have a look in the internet and you will find for example a recent incident in the UK where 20 swans were killed with an air gun in a park and other incidents in ( as reported by the Cabs site ) where rare birds of prey such as this pallid harrier are killed by poison.

So your continuous moaning and whining about banning legal and lawful hunting ( autumn/spring ) because of such incidents is really pathetic and senseless.

What is needed is continuous and serious enforcement to apprehend and bring to justice these criminals and leave the honest law abiding hunters enjoy their hobby.

MARK MIFSUD BONNICI

May 6th 2011, 16:46

Whilst condemning all crime against protected species of birds we augur that perpetrators are brought to justice and treated severely by the Maltese judiciary.

Only implementing the harshest penalties contemplated by law will serve as a deterrent to any similar crime in future. As witnessed throughout this year's hunting season where raptor migration was exceptional, the vast majority of hunters unquestionably abide by laws and regulations.

Incidents such a this reported find cast a bad light on all law abiding hunters and on Malta in general. We trust that the Court's judgement of anyone caught shooting protected species will serve as an example to the few that still consider themselves to be above the law.

Setting the example lies entirely upon the Maltese judiciary and its evaluation of these despicable acts.

Kaccaturi San Ubertu

Mr R. Abela

May 6th 2011, 16:02

I can assure birdlife, that the presence of real turtle doves and quail hunters in the countryside will report immediatly such incidents of poachers. Hunters are fasely blamed for such incidents. Poachers are more safe in close season and real hunters are the only victims of such poaching. Poachers do not have rules like all other bad vehicles drivers. This can happen any where on the globe not only in Malta like to try to convince people birdlife Malta

Mr r curmi

May 6th 2011, 15:40

for the police and for the hunting lobby apologisits why dont u come down area of Luqa behind has serh and u will plainy see that the hunting season is still open to this very day.

Mr HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI

May 6th 2011, 14:40

Birdlife has to understand that Spring Hunting has nothiing to do with illegal hunting. This unfortunate incident could have happened outside the hunting hours and the hunters are not to blame. We paid through our noses to have enforcement, we also contributed with passing information to the ALE for their intervention.

However, I regret to say that Birdlife do not want to particpate in the efforts put through by FKNK. They just want a total abolition which will never happen.

Ofcourse i am against illegal hunting, but that does not make every hunter a poacher. Untill years back Birdlife used to say Spring Hunting should be scrapped because of breeding, now they come up with sensational photos but they fall short of declaring ban on hunting. As if illegal hunting will stop if hunting is banned.

The CABS have declared a vast improvement on previous years and Birdlife contradict them by stating that protected birds brought in were doubled. I have witnessed enormous improvement but there is still a lot to be done and Birdlife should give their contribution by action and not just sensational publicity.

Mr Biker Man

May 6th 2011, 14:39

Min sparalha, zgur hasibha gamiema ....... miskin.

Jesmond Micallef

May 6th 2011, 14:18

One sincerely hopes that this Pallid Harrier recovers well unlike the previous case of the Osprey that was shot at Salina and had to be euthanised.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101204/local/euthanasia-in-germany-for-osprey-shot-in-malta.339217

Please Maltese hunters whoever you are, but I literally beg you on my knees but stop making complete and total idiotic fools of yourselves and others. I cringe and sweat whenever I meet a German person who refers to the notoriety of bird hunting in Malta, literally !!

Lydia Pace Workman

May 6th 2011, 13:39

It is such a barbaric practice to continue shooting birds. In the US we are inundated with deer that cause havoc and are responsible for many road tragedies when they leap out of nowhere in the dark. Even that, to me, seems like useless killing, surely there can be a better way of controlling the deer population, but one cannot distinguish between endangered species of birds or otherwise. The sport should be banned completely and individuals fined large sums of money for persisting in this cruelty to animals.

Mr Michael Buhagiar

May 6th 2011, 13:34

and instead of flowing to germany injured birds, it would be more appropriate for Birdlife to flow to Germany those human beings who really and truly need medical aid which is not available in Malta. And for which Germany is much renowned. This is all waste of money flowing injured birds just to give them a second third fourth chance to fly. I admire them when they fill in our sky with their cries and flying tactics. But I am more practical than Birdlife is. Wasting taxpayers' money down the drain. Human beings need more care than animals and birds.

Mr Michael Buhagiar

May 6th 2011, 13:32

maltese people have a right as much as european ones to hunt birds of prey which enter maltese airspace. and no law and no entity and neither Birdlife will put a stop to this truth. This is a natural right which no birdlife will take away from Maltese citizens. Abuses will be deplored and contained but hunting in spring and autumn will remain, EU or no EU. That is the maltese hunter's natural right.

Mr Joseph Aquilina

May 6th 2011, 13:30

Both PN and PL should be ashamed of themselves for putting in danger a whole species for a bunch of votes!! They both have big words when it comes to the environment, but then none of them can be seen when it is time to really do something!! Bird hunting and any other form of animal cruelty should be banned.

Mr Anthony Formosa

May 6th 2011, 13:10

Whilst condemning such irresponsible act, I cannot apprehend BL statement that this bird was shot during the spring derogation just to shed a bad light on all hunters. However, I'm a bit confused on how the bird was found on Sunday, probably shot earlier, and sent to Germany. If this really happened during the spring season, it most likely happened in the evening when the season was closed. This shows that the presence of hunters surely reduce such acts. Just for the records, BLM has been saying that there are 5 to 50 breeding pairs in Europe for the last 10 years, is it possible that these birds don't like to be part of the EU?

Ms Sylvana Zarb Darmanin

May 6th 2011, 13:04

BLM you are trying to do anything to convince us that poaching occured during the LEGAL Spring Hunting Season. You have not given up yet. After being exposed of your lie that Spring Hunting is illegal, you are frantically clutching at straws! Most people are aware that poaching mostly occurs during closed season. The LEGAL Spring Hunting Season was enjoyed by the many Maltese law-abiding hunters who also served as a deterrent to poachers. You deceitful persist in your dirty tactics to reach your aim. Well, many people can see through these tactics!! Nonetheless, I condemn such illegality and wish that the culprit is caught.

Finally, Paul Debono, on your appointment I had augured that you act in a more responsible manner than your predecessor. Unfortunately, there is not much difference. Sir, you are fully aware that our Maltese Police Force has succeeded in controlling the situation very well! I am also sure that you may vouch that it was all quite and hunters were behaving themselves during your visit at Imtahleb on Good Friday!!

Mr R ferriggi

May 6th 2011, 12:46

i was never against a total ban on hunting, because it is not fair that a few idiots do this.

but in all frankness,,,,,, you have to think twice of for the good of flying endagered species,,,,,

hunting is banned from this island.