The Committee Against Bird Slaughter yesterday called on the Prime Minister to ban trapping and hunting of golden plovers in Malta.

According to the German-based organisation, the population of the species in central Europe is on the brink of extinction.

The group has launched a ‘Handle with Care’ campaign to draw attention to the birds’ plight.

Golden plovers are legally hunted in Malta. A video posted on Facebook this week showed a shot golden plover being tormented by hunters.

CABS said the main threats in the EU were the destruction of the breeding habitats and hunting in staging and wintering areas such as France and Malta. The golden plover is listed on Annex I of the EU Birds Directive as requiring special conservation measures to ensure its survival.

CABS urgently appealed to all hunters and trappers in the EU to denounce the killing and trapping of the species and to report all sightings of ringed birds to CABS@komitee.de.

The government last night said there was no scientific basis for the requested ban. It said the taking of golden plovers in Malta was well below one per cent of the birds’ natural mortality rate.

While the species breeding in other countries had suffered a moderate decline, the sub-species that migrates over Malta had actually increased.

A scientific assessment of its conservation status in Malta and Europe had found there was no danger from limited taking of plover here.