What are your thoughts on the hunting habits in Malta?
Hunting has been inherited from our ancestors and it is part of our heritage. I believe everyone has the right to practise a pastime, but on the other hand, animals have the right to live as well, so hunting should be limited. Gloria Pace, 20, Mcast Btec Higher National Diploma in Health and Social Care (Practice).
For the number of hunters we have, I do not think we cause as much damage as people think. Most hunters do not see that many birds these days and our hunting practices do not kill a lot of birds. Duncan Micallef, 19, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Materials.
I do not like this sport but I am not exactly sure what it entails in Malta since I am an Erasmus student. Olga Malas, 22, Bachelor in Psychology (Hons).
How do they compare with hunting habits abroad?
The same principle as I mentioned before applies. When someone kills an animal to eat it, I can live with that. Unfortunately, not all the birds hunted in Malta are killed to be consumed as food. Gloria Pace
First of all, abroad there is more prey and I think they conform more to standards; however, I think they cause much more damage. Duncan Micallef
I think, abroad, mainly in Spain, it is worse. I know plenty of people who hunt birds and other animals every weekend simply for the fun of it. Olga Malas
Is enough importance given, both locally and internationally, to the imperative need to protect endangered species?
Not really. Sometimes I get the impression there is a lot of focus on people who care about animals, for example through TV programmes for animal lovers. I think awareness about the protection of endangered species can be increased if we focus on exposing and stopping people who actually kill or hurt these creatures. Gloria Pace
Realistically, the fact that they are endangered makes them rarer, so less of them would be hunted down. For the percentage we have in Malta, I do not know how many rare birds are actually hunted down. Probably there are people who hunt rare birds but I do not think the majority do. Duncan Micallef
I do not think so. Governments don’t seem to do anything to educate people of the dangers of species extinction or to protect animals. Olga Malas
Interviews conducted by Insite – The Student Media Organisation.