Another beautiful protected-bird slaughter with most of the shattered birds left floating in the water. Why?

How long is the Government going to put up with this? How long is the European Union going to put up with it?

Every year we know it’s going to happen because, this being a small place, it intrudes on all of us and is so sadly regular.

Don’t anyone hold their breath but can we expect anyone to be indicted for this outrage and, even in that unlikely event, can we expect an appropriate sentence?

Which brings me to my next point. A man from Safi was discharged “conditionally” for assaulting a bird watcher from the CABS team.

Why would a hitherto law-abiding hunter, which I presume he was, want to assault a person who was only doing what all the law-abiding hunters and their associations say they are trying to do themselves, that is, catch illegal hunters and see the practice ended?

Did the fact that illegal trapping was going on in the area have something to do with it?

This again stresses the point that rules and regulations mean nothing without enforcement and deterrence in the way of punishment. This sentence (not even a small fine?) gives out the message that it’s ok to punch someone who’s only out to stop illegal hunting because even if you are caught you’ll walk free!

Why go through the farce of having the police reinforced with ‘marshals’ to stamp out these regular excesses? By the way, where are all these marshals? I haven’t come across one yet.