The Office of Prime Minister yesterday asked the Police Commissioner to investigate an allegation by the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) of "renewed massive killing of protected migrant birds of prey by Maltese hunters".

The allegation was made in a letter sent to the Prime Minister, who was also told of the "concomitant disregard for the rule of law".

The OPM is urging the public to aid the police in their investigations on illegal hunting.

The Prime Minister on Monday also asked the police to investigate a claim by the hunting federation that some hunters engaging in illegal activities enjoy protection.

BirdLife Malta said yesterday that the scale of illegal hunting intensified over the last few days as raptor migration continues to peak.

It said 12 birds of prey with verified gunshot injuries were received by the conservation organisation in the past six days.

A black stork was seen by Raptor Camp participants being shot down on Monday evening near the Dwejra lines.

The stork is a rare species of conservation concern in Europe.

Raptor migration will continue over Malta until mid-October and it is expected that large numbers of these birds will gather over the island in the coming weeks.

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