In view of the alleged rampant shooting of birds, animal cruelty is widespread. I detest it. But I am sickened by letters sent in by tourists who declare they will spread the word around so that visitors will not to return to this fair isle because of the “cowboys” who roam the countryside.

The vast majority of the Maltese are against this so-called sport but since every Administration has been reluctant to rein it in, even at the risk of having to pay the EU millions of euros in fines, things will never change. Several European countries indulge in cruel sports but one that comes readily to mind is, of course, Spain.

We are in the same situation here. The Spaniards, in their majority, are very much against bull fighting but, because of their culture and tradition, this barbaric sport is reluctantly tolerated.

But bull fighting is definitely not a show of equal strength. Had the bull not been weakened by drugs and no sharp instruments dug into its body then man and beast would be on equal footing.

In bull fighting, the bull hardly ever stands a chance.

Another sport that is equally cruel is the festes de buos (bull festivals). Here, a bull dashes around a bullring with fireworks attached to its horns. In its attempts to rid itself of the source of torment, the bull only manages to burn its eyes and head and it is only then that the organisers decide to rid the animal of its pain.

These two horrendous sports linger on and the tourists still flock to Spain, many of them purchasing property there. No declarations, however, are ever made that they will never return.

The hunting of birds is cruel but definitely not as cruel as these two sporting events in Spain. So why this hysteria against tiny Malta?