The osprey sent to Germany for rehabilitation after it was shot at the Salina bird sanctuary on October 4 could not be saved despite the veterinarians’ efforts, BirdLife Malta said.

The gunshot wound led to a lessened blood flow to the bird’s right wing, which had to be amputated after the wing tip died. This meant, Malte, as the osprey was known among its rehabilitators, would never have flown again, the conservation group said.

The veterinarians considered alternatives to save the bird but the species is very difficult to keep in captivity and no osprey captive breeding programme exists in Germany. The decision was taken to euthanise the bird to put an end to its suffering.

The osprey was recovered by BirdLife Malta and the police Administrative Law Enforcement unit shortly after being shot. Birdlife learnt from the German ring attached to its leg that the osprey was ringed as a chick in its nest on June 25.

It was the focus of a conservation project by the BirdLife partner in Germany (Nabu), together with the Forestry Commission, nature conservation authorities, power line companies and about 200 volunteers.

Since the osprey was recovered, BirdLife said it had received a further 27 shot protected birds. Their injuries were confirmed by a vet and were reported to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the ALE and the Office of the Prime Minister.

BirdLife called on the government to take concrete measures to clamp down on illegal hunting by significantly increasing fines for repeat offenders and setting up a dedicated wildlife crime unit with sufficient resources.