A flamingo was found in a Gozitan man’s freezer, the police confirmed yesterday, amid reports of various others shot down.

The developments come after Birdlife reported sighting a 40-strong flock of flamingos, prompting the police to observe their movements to shield them from hunters.

Sources close to the police yesterday told Times of Malta that investigations are ongoing over reports that at least eight flamingos were shot over Gozo.

On Monday, the police said they had arrested three men – all Gozitans – over the killing of flamingos on August 24 in Xewkija. Despite these arrests, no dead carcasses were found.

Yesterday, however, the police found a frozen flamingo in a house in Kerċem.

In this case – which the police have confirmed is separate from the shooting on August 24 – another hunter was arrested and is expected to be charged with the illegal shooting of a protected bird.

Following the rare arrival of flamingos last week, Birdlife had thanked the police and the public for their response to protect the unusually high number seen around the islands.

Photos of a young flamingo in the sea off Mġarr Ix-Xini made the rounds on Facebook after witnesses saw the bird being shot down by a hunter standing on the shore. The man then sent his dog into the sea to retrieve the dead bird.

The hunting season is currently closed and all hunting is considered to be illegal. The hunting season officially starts on Sunday.

This year, the Government relaxed the rules originally imposed to protect the safe passage of birds of prey by extending the time of hunting during the most vulnerable time of the day.

Until last year, a curfew was imposed between September 15 until the end of the month, to ensure no hunting was permitted after 3pm.

However, this year, the Government gave in to hunters’ requests and extended hunting time until 7pm. Birdlife claimed this would guarantee more illegal hunting.

Yesterday, the Government pledged to beef up enforcement ahead of the season .