The killing of majestic spoonbills which reached Malta earlier this week was a disgrace and an act that should be despised by everyone, especially serious and law abiding hunters and trappers, the Federation for Hunting and Conservation – Malta (FKNK) said.

It said in a statement that reports of a flock of spoonbills migrating over our islands reached the Federation early this week. It also received reports that this flock had landed to rest for the night in an area close to Burmarrad.

The FKNK was then informed that poachers had managed to sneak through the guarded area and take shots at these birds, killing some.

“This is a disgrace to everyone who loves birds and the environment and is an act that should be despised by everyone, especially every serious and law-abiding hunter and trapper.

“Without reservation and with all responsibility on behalf of the thousands of its members, the FKNK totally condemns such vile acts. In fact, the FKNK is hereby officially calling on all its members to notify the ALE section of the Malta Police immediately any one of them has any knowledge of any facts that could lead to the incrimination of the perpetrators.

“It is only in this manner that we, as a hunting and trapping community can really be seen to be the real guardians of the environment.

“The public sees such criminal acts as being hunter oriented and while this is an incorrect assumption, it is up to us to do our utmost to discriminate against such wrongdoings,” it said

The FKNK urged the police to do their utmost to investigate this case thoroughly and placed its resources at the disposal of the police, if this can assist in their task.

It reiterated its “zero tolerance” stand and said it would immediately halt the membership of any person caught, tried and convicted of wilfully shooting strictly protected species.