BirdLife Malta and the FKNK this morning formally took possession of buildings in Buskett which will house Malta’s first centre for the rehabilitation of shot and injured birds and a museum on hunting. 

Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights, Roderick Galdes, formally handed over the buildings..

BirdLife Malta President Geoffrey Saliba said the society welcomed  the government’s commitment to bird rehabilitation in Malta, recognising the need for a well-equipped centre to care for the many birds that were injured over Malta and Gozo.

"Previously, birds requiring specialist care had to be sent to a rehabilitation centre in Sicily. Now, thanks to this centre, we will have the necessary facilities  to carry out this important work here in Malta, allowing birds to rest and recover in the hands of professionals. This will greatly improve their chances of surviving to be released back into the wild," he added.

BirdLife will be working to ensure that the centre is fully equipped and ready before the autumn migration season, he added.

The building, an old farmhouse, was renovated by the government and provided rent-free to BirdLife Malta who will be running the facility.

The bird rehabilitation centre will be run by trained staff and will house specially designed areas for injured birds to recover before being released back to the wild. There will also be a small visitor and education centre which will be open to the public.

The FKNK hunters' federation was given a similarly-restored building which it intends using for educational activities, research and as a museum on hunting.