Fourteen protected raptors were seized by the police and planning authority officials on Monday from a falconry in the limits of Siġġiewi.

Sources said the birds were seized because the owners are believed not to have had the necessary papers proving the origins of the species. Among the birds were two long-crested eagles believed to have been either not ringed or bearing inadequate rings.

The police confirmed that the action had taken place, saying the Administrative Law Enforcement section got wind of suspicious activity in the vicinity and, together with officials from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, raided the building.

The 14 birds, some of which were wounded, were found in cages and another was found dead.

An inquiry has now been launched and the birds, which are temporarily being cared for by the planning authority, are being examined.

The sources said the owner of the falconry is being questioned by the police to establish the origins of the birds and whether they have been subjected to any cruelty.

A black kite and a European hobby apparently had a broken wing, which healed badly.

A marsh harrier lost one eye and another was very badly injured.

The largest seizure made so far took place about three months ago when a raid yielded 75 protected wader and song birds in a greenhouse in Baħrija.

According to experts, the protected species had a total market value exceeding €20,000.

Altogether, 32 little stints, 13 wood sandpipers, eight common sandpipers, five little ringed plovers, five green sandpipers, two white wagtails, two yellow wagtails and a red-throated pipit, a dunlin, a temminch's stint and ring ouzel were found.

The birds were kept in police custody throughout the night and taken to the Għadira nature reserve in the morning where they were released.

Unfortunately, three had died beforehand.