Hunting and trapping should not be allowed in nature parks the Heritage Parks Federation, which administered  the Majjistral Nature and History Park said.

The federation, which is made up mainly of Gaia Foundation, Din l-Art Ħelwa and Nature Trust, said in a statement that a legal notice published in April limited trapping at the park from two hours before sunrise to 10am.

However, it felt trapping activities were not at all consonant within a park that promoted the enjoyment of nature and the regeneration of the species and it opted not to issue permits.

It said it was disappointed to hear, however, that new nature parks might be subject to concessions to the hunting and trapping lobbies and urged the government to take a firm stand in any new protected park rather than attempt to keep all stakeholders happy.