We refer to the BirdLife Malta (BLM) report ‘Maltese Falcon feared gunned down by poachers’, and unreservedly condemn the attempt to shoot a peregrine falcon, even more so that it appears to have been a concerted effort by more than one poacher.

We augur that the fact that this incident was actually witnessed by 120 BirdLife Malta members will lead to the apprehension of the culprits, particularly if the registration number, size, colour and other details of the speedboat used were hopefully ‘captured’ by the binoculars and the cameras of so many BLM bird-watchers. We trust that BirdLife Malta is in a position to provide the required evidence of this and similar happenings to ensure successful court proceedings against the perpetrators.

The action of these poachers is contemptible, and we hope that the police will be successful in rooting them out, and in prosecuting them successfully in court. 

Lino Farrugia

FKNK Secretary General