BBC journalist Chris Packham may have many admirers in the UK and his coverage of the Maltese hunting season has hit the headlines and has also been picked up by other British media.
But he has also detractors, who speak of “false and hyped up conservational spin and lies”. The writer has also filed a complaint directly with BBC.
The Malta Independent received the letter below, which we are reproducing in full. The letter has also been sent by the writer to the police communications and media office.
Dear Malta Independent,
I watched in horror today as Chris Packham stood outside his house in the New Forest, Hampshire England and exclaimed live on the BBC's Breakfast TV Programme... "I can't hear any birds singing around hear because they are all being shot in Malta".
At the time of this live TV broadcast I was at a friend’s house only 15 miles away from Mr Packham's location and I could hear numerous birds singing so I considered his wildly untrue and misleading statement as very unprofessional and have made an official complaint to the BBC via their online Complaints System.
I do deplore the hunting of wild birds, but I also have very little time for career conservationists who try and grab the British public's attention by cooking up false and extremely hyped up conservational spin and lies.
Unfortunately this is not the first time I have had to complain about this broadcaster’s comments on BBC TV. Several years ago he made some false and misleading comments about boats anchors causing damage to Studland Bay Seagrass Meadows in Dorset. This has since been proved totally untrue by several Government Surveys.
In this instance he was assisted by Mr Neil Garrick-Maidment of The Seahorse Trust, who has interests in Malta with a Seahorse Survey and tourist business.
I note that Mr Garrick Maidment is currently supporting Mr Packham in his quest to expose Maltese Hunting of Wild Migrating Birdlife on his Facebook Page "The Seahorse Trust" mainly due to the fact that they are good friends and Mr Packham is a Patron of The Seahorse Trust .
But having had years of dealing with these two career conservationists I take everything they come out with ....well with a very big pinch of salt!
Having served in the British Merchant Navy for many years I have sailed with several Maltese Seamen and have the greatest respect for them and their fellow countrymen especially after the vital role Malta played in WW2, and I hope that following this hyped up BBC Conservation Coverage a proper independent investigation is carried out to show the British Public the truth about what’s been really happening in Malta and expose these career conservationists for what they really are.
Kind Regards
Captain Alex Gibbons
Swanage Dorset UK