Police officials have confirmed to the Federation for Hunting and Conservation - Malta (FKNK) that the report that "Another white stork was shot dead late yesterday..." and that "The police arrested a man in connection with the incident..." is incorrect and that in all probability this report refers to the arrest of a man in connection to the shooting of a dotterel (Charadrius morinellus - 210 mm in length, more or less the size of the turtle dove, a legal game-bird) and not a white stork (Ciconia ciconia - 1000 mm in length).

Notwithstanding, both species are classified as strictly protected and therefore the FKNK repeats that such cowardly acts of illegal shooting of protected bird species, are in no way connected to legal sustainable hunting, and again warns, that its reaction and that of genuine hunters, will ensure that persons who commit such criminal acts will not find refuge anywhere. 

Mainly, also and especially because, it is obvious that these illegal acts continue to shed a bad light on the otherwise genuine true hunters and the FKNK itself despite the fact that these are not at fault.

Thus and furthermore, the FKNK will do its utmost to ensure that the remaining handful of lawbreakers, whose illegal actions are causing so much harm to Maltese and Gozitan hunters and to Malta, are eradicated for good.

This statement was issued just before the government announced it had closed the hunting season with immediate effect.