Birdwatchers have called for an assessment of depressed hunters and, if necessary, the withdrawal of their licence to carry a gun.

The appeal follows a claim by the Hunters Federation that many of its members are on antidepressants, which was followed by a minute's silence called by the federation in memory of four hunters who committed suicide earlier this year, after spring hunting was ruled out.

Joe Perici Calascione, the federation's press officer, said: "We did not have to come to this. People should not have had to lose their lives because they were deprived of an integral part of their daily lives. Many are now on antidepressants and suffering from different psychological disorders".

However, Tolga Temuge, Birdlife's director, said the police should immediately investigate the claims and, if necessary, suspend the depressed hunters' weapons licence.

Meanwhile, Geoffrey Saliba, Birdlife's Campaigns Coordinator, said the Office of the Prime Minister remained silent over illegal hunting despite the overwhelming evidence of its scale and the discovery of more than 200 birds this week.

It was clear, he said, that the shots were not being heard there but the usual impotent threats about hunters' votes were.

Mr Saliba also said the organisation's offices were inundated with calls from people reporting several hunters shooting at protected birds. He claimed at least six were shot down early yesterday morning and 12 were wounded.

Police sources said four men were arrested on suspicion of shooting protected birds at Is-Saliba Tal-Gholja, Siggiewi two days ago. However, neither guns nor birds were found in their possession.

They said another hunter was arrested in Wied Is-Sewda, Qormi because his gun was not registered and his ammunition was illegal.

Two abandoned shotguns and cartridges were also found by two patrols.

kbugeja@timesofmalta.com