Last updated at 9.17pm with FKNK statement - The alleged shooter of two storks shot down on Wednesday has been apprehended by the police, according to Animal Rights Parliamentary Secretary Clint Camilleri.

The two storks raised the number of protected birds known to have been shot over the past week to five.

Three protected storks were shot down last week. A 41-year-old man was subsequently arraigned and accused of the crime on Monday.

Mr Camilleri, a hunter himself, insisted the government would not tolerate hunting illegalities and he was confident justice would prevail over the few.

More than 18 protected storks arrived over Malta and Gozo last week. However, some fear many of the birds have fallen victim to hunters, after only seven could be seen flying on Wednesday.

BirdLife Malta in a statement said it expected expects clear action from the
government to show that it will not tolerate such atrocities anymore,
"especially now that it is clear that the hunting lobby has lost control of its members."

The NGO noted that after the first storks were shot down on Friday, in contrast to the outcry from the general public, the hunting lobby led by FKNK (federation for hunters, trappers and conservationists) issued a statement in which it blamed the European Commission and the European Court of Justice for these illegalities, hinting that this was what could be expected when their lobby did not get what it wanted. They were clearly referring to the latest ECJ verdict on the finch trapping derogation that practically meant the end of finch trapping in Malta. 

Birdlife thanked the police and the public for having joined the organisation’s outcry and have assisted by calling, filming and reporting incidents.

"It is thanks to this help that two persons are now being questioned,
one of whom has already been taken to court and denied bail. 

The FKNK hunters' federation denied BirdLife's claims and insisted it was against all illegal hunting, which was also harmful to those who observed the law. 

It criticised BirdLife for claiming that the shooting of the storks was in any way related to its comments on the European Court's decision.  

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