The hunters’ federation last night called on its thousands of members to help catch the person responsible for killing flamingos, as for the second time in under a week two were killed off the coast.

The Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FKNK) said “no one is suffering more than legal hunters each time a case concerning a violation of hunting regulations is heard of”.

It said cases like this caused the public to believe that “all hunters are bad”. It would therefore do all in its power to ensure the bad was apprehended and eradicated, the only way hunting could regain its social status. “These criminals have to be aware of FKNK’s wrath.”

Earlier, Birdlife Malta said that on Sunday afternoon, a flock of about 60 flamingos was spotted flying low off the coast opposite Magħtab. Hunters on a speedboat a kilometre off the coast were seen shooting at the flock, killing two.

“On the eve of an election, hunting in Malta seems to be spiralling out of control on land and at sea,” its conservation manager, Nicholas Barbara, said.

Birdlife encouraged members of the public to report illegal hunting incidents to the police. Instructions can be found at www.birdlifemalta.org.