At least two protected white storks, which formed part of a flock of 13 birds migrating through Malta, were shot dead by poachers in the Salina area.
The killing was filmed by members of the Committee Against Bird Slaughter who were monitoring the flock with Birdlife members on Saturday afternoon.
Perpetrators can run, but they will not be able to hide for long
The footage, filmed from a distance, shows the birds flying after shots were heard in the area. After some time two drop to the ground.
Parliamentary Secretary for animal rights Roderick Galdes condemned the “hideous act” and said the government would soon amend the law to increase the punishment for such acts tenfold.
Anyone found guilty, for the first time, of shooting or trapping a protected species will face a €5,000 fine or a one-year jail term as well as the permanent revocation of their hunting licence.
This will increase to a €10,000 fine and two years behind bars in the case of repeat offenders.
“Perpetrators can run, but they will not be able to hide for long, as the entire legal hunting and trapping community will stand behind the government on our measures.
“These criminals will be condemned and rejected and will not find refuge amongst the law-abiding community,” Mr Galdes said.
In a statement, CABS president Heinz Schwarze said that after witnessing the shootings, birdwatchers alerted the police, who searched the area but were unable to find the dead storks or the people who killed them. This was confirmed by a police spokesman.
After the incident only 10 storks were observed flying towards Buskett, indicating that a third bird had been killed, CABS said.
The committee added that, since Friday, its reports led to police investigations of four bird trappers near Dingli, Manikata and Għargħur. CABS also reported a trapping site in San Ġwann.
CABS accused the government of downplaying the poaching problem and called on it to establish a dedicated wildlife crime unit.
In a statement, the government said it was taking steps to increase field surveillance.
Police would soon deploy the recently acquired, specialised, unmanned aerial surveillance vehicle, it said.
The government was also considering deploying wardens and plain clothes surveillance of the countryside in addition to routine uniformed patrols.
Preparations were also underway to establish a specialised training course to set up a wildlife crime investigation unit within the police force.
St Hubert Hunters condemned the shootings and commended the government’s intention of increasing surveillance and penalties.
Birdlife welcomed the higher penalties, saying it hoped they would act as a deterrent to would-be poachers.
The conservation organisation said in a statement that it also looked forward to the long-awaited wildlife crime unit, as well as a review of the tactics employed by police to detect, gather evidence against and apprehend illegal hunters and trappers.