A hunter who was filmed by volunteers from the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) while  hunting at Salina before the start of the hunting season in April has been fined €1,000 and has had his hunting licence revoked for two years.

In welcoming the court's judgement, Cabs said the man was apprehended by the police after it filmed him with a loaded shotgun and an illegal bird caller.

Meanwhile, in separate cases, two bird trappers from Bingemma and Zejtun were fined €1,000 each for illegally trapping protected birds in April and July.

The men were reported to the police by Cabs, which provided video and photo evidence.

One of the trappers - Larner Polidano, 46, of Kirkop, was a repeat offender who was found guilty of being in possession of 41 stuffed protected birds including 10 Night Herons, several Short-eared Owls, a Pallid Harrier and a Merlin falcon back in 2007, Cabs said.

"We are happy that the man was found guilty but taking into account that he is a repeat offender a €1,000 fine sends out the wrong message. It can be regarded more as a licence fee for his illegal activity than a severe punishment", Cabs Press Officer Axel Hirschfeld commented. CABS also regretted that the trapping licence of the man was not revoked despite him being a repeat offender.

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