The largest flock of white storks ever recorded in Malta must have been such a beautiful sight. I would have loved to see them myself, and it hurts to see that some of those who were lucky enough to watch the spectacle had the nerve to shoot at these awesome creatures.

While noting that the hunters’ and trappers’ federation (FKNK) condemned the illegal shooting, I feel that a lot more needs to be done to prevent such incidents and ensure that perpetrators are duly punished.

According to BirdLife, the Administrative Law Enforcement (ALE) unit has just 25 officers to deal with incidents in Malta and Gozo, and in summer these officers are restricted mainly to beach patrols. During peak migration periods, the unit has between two and five cars to cover Malta and Gozo.

The ALE unit badly needs more resources. It is also a pity that repeated calls for the setting up of a wildlife crime unit were shot down, since wildlife crime is one of the numerous responsibilities that the ALE unit has to deal with.

■ Frances Muscat

Birkirkara