A rare Short-toed Eagle (Ajkla Bajda) was shot down over Gozo, Birdlife Malta said on Friday. The bird, which was shown to the journalists present, had just been recovered and was taken to the government veterinarian.
This was the latest castualty of the Autumn hunting season, BirdLife Malta President Darryl Grima, CEO Mark Sultana and Head of Conservation Nik Barbara said.
A flock of 12 of these birds was met with gunfire on its arrival in Gozo and this particular bird was found by two Italian tourists who were driving in a country lane between Marsalforn and Xagħra, they said.
With this latest shot protected bird, the total number of illegally shot birds recovered so far this year by BirdLife Malta and police has now reached 167, with 2020 continuing to be a record year for illegal hunting in the last eight years.
During the press conference, BirdLife Malta also gave its official reaction to the signing of the “secret deal” between the Government and the Federazzjoni Kaċċaturi Nassaba Konservazzjonisti (FKNK) handing over the Miżieb and Aħrax woodlands to the hunting lobby.
The agreement is simply “a vote-catching exercise to appease a lobby which gives nothing back to society and is only there to safeguard its hunter members’ interests, and which will be gifted with the largest woodland areas in Malta in spite of transforming these two sites into meccas for illegalities throughout the years,” the organisation said.
BirdLife Malta will be joining the general public gathering at Miżieb on Sunday at 3pm to protest.
Birdlife also issued a list of ten points summing up BirdLife Malta’s message to Prime Minister Robert Abela about the situation.
FKNK condemns 'vile' act
In a statement, the FKNK said any case of illegal hunting is giving a bad name to sustainable hunting.
This was another case where a person or persons committed a shameful illegality, with disrespect towards the majority of hunters. It urged its members to come forward with any information about the case. Law-abiding hunters cannot keep suffering the consequences of vile acts, it said.
Photos: Katarzyna Pacon