The scale of illegal hunting has intensified in Malta over the last few days as raptor migration continues to peak, BirdLife Malta said yesterday. A total of 12 birds of prey with verified gunshot injuries have been received by the conservation organisation in the last six days, with four of these being handed in on Monday alone.

“This is the worst season that many local birdwatchers can remember in recent years,” said Dr Andre Raine, BirdLife Malta’s Conservation Manager.

“If BirdLife Malta can receive 12 birds of prey with confirmed gunshot injuries in only six days, then the actual number of protected birds that are being shot throughout the country must be very high. The chances of a shot bird being brought to the BirdLife Malta offices are low since the birds we receive have to escape the poacher who shot them and then be found by someone willing to hand them over to us. Therefore, this really is only the tip of the iceberg.”

Two of the birds, a marsh harrier and a honey-buzzard, were found by Raptor Camp participants within the Buskett bird sanctuary, “highlighting a worrying trend that poachers are now returning to areas where they had been successfully removed in the past,” BirdLife said.

“It seems that poachers feel they can simply do as they please,” said Dr Raine. “It is time that the government took this situation seriously, otherwise the slaughter will continue over the coming weeks. While the presence of international ornithologists and the ALE (Administrative Law Enforcement police) at key locations in the countryside is having a noticeable effect in these areas, they cannot be everywhere at once.”

The organisation stated that the scale of illegal hunting suggests that the culprits are more than the “the very few untouchables” as suggested by the hunters’ and trappers’ federation, FKNK. “While an investigation into the matter is welcome, the FKNK must put its words into action and seriously make an effort to stop illegal hunting. A recent thread on the FKNK website, where at least five hunters remarked on the illegal killing of protected species, was removed by the FKNK moderator. Why is the FKNK trying to silence those hunters speaking out against illegal hunting?” Dr Raine added.

Geoffrey Saliba, the organisation’s Campaign Co-ordinator, said that “Unless the government stops seeing this as an argument between two sides and recognises the ongoing illegal hunting as a national problem and a criminal act that defies national and international law, the slaughter will continue.”

“The only way to put a stop to the killing is to make sure that those who are found guilty of these crimes are punished to the fullest extent of the law. The fines for those caught hunting illegally must be increased and the licences of repeat offenders must be cancelled. If the government is serious about curbing illegal hunting, the ALE should be given the resources they need to counter the unacceptable level of poaching,” concluded Mr Saliba.