Italian police are searching for three Maltese men in connection with the illegal hunting of a protected Eurasian crane grawwa in Sicily, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) said today.

The incident, CABS said, was observed by a hunting guard on December 17, at around 10.30am in the Pantano Cuba wetlands, in the south-east corner of Sicily.

A Eurasian crane. Photo: International Crane Foundation

The hunting guard, who was on a routine patrol when the men fired shots at the passing bird, informed the Carabinieri and tried to detain the three men until the arrival of the officers.

"Unfortunately the poachers managed to escape in a small white car... At least two of them were carrying shotguns. The men spoke Maltese and used a small white car with Maltese registration plate", CABS press officer Axel Hirschfeld said.

The Ragusa Carabinieri are investigating the case.

CABS said that it passed on the number plate of the car to the ALE for further investigations on Malta.

Common Cranes are a protected species both in Italy and Malta.

The Pantano Cuba wetlands are a protected Natura 2000 site with international importance for migrating water birds, CABS said.

In 2014 large parts of the wetland were bought by CABS partner Stiftung Pro Artenvielfalt, which also supports CABS operations on Malta and Gozo.