The hunting federation has vowed to cancel the membership of any member hunter found guilty by a court of shooting at spoonbills that sought shelter in Malta two days ago.
In a statement, the FKNK said that if any of the people who had anything to do with the atrocity was a member, it would immediately cancel his membership.
It pointed out that a person can only re-apply for a licence to carry a shotgun for hunting purposes if he or she can supply evidence of a membership with an organisation that defends hunting and trapping.
The FKNK said that it did not have any control over this and it was, therefore, up to the authorities to take heed of its assertions over this ironic situation.
“If such persons manage to find refuge in the folds of other hunting and trapping organisations, they will still have the opportunity to carry a shotgun for hunting purposes and continue to harm the hunting and trapping fraternity and the environment at large,” it said.
The FKNK said that the reports of the spoonbills’ visit should have been of particular interest to both birdwatchers and serious hunters and trappers, since it was not a common sight or occurrence.
However, it seemed there were certain people who felt they were above the law and society’s legal parameters and continued to flaunt their unruly prowess thinking they could get away with it with little or no consequence.
“The shooting of illegal species is a subject of complete condemnation not only from protectionist quarters but also from environment conservation ones such as the FKNK.
“The FKNK supports the efforts of Birdlife Malta and of all those public sectors involved in curtailing such illegal practices including, but not limited to, the Administrative Law Enforcement unit within the Police Corps.
“Whilst the FKNK rejects all efforts by any sector to try to generalise such issues to reflect badly on the hunting fraternity, it will continue to do its utmost to assist with all its resources to eliminate these remnants of such illegal environmental acts,” it promised.