BirdLife Malta has unequivocally condemned what it described as a "brutal" and "revolting" act after footage emerged of a protected Common Kestrel, known locally as the Spanjulett, being crushed to death under a trapper's boot in Gozo.

Starting its reaction with a strongly worded statement, BirdLife Malta said the incident went far beyond the cruelty it has long associated with the hunting and trapping of wild birds.

"While we have long stated that hunting and trapping wild birds is inherently cruel, what we witnessed today goes far beyond that," the NGO said.

It described the killing as "not an isolated incident" but rather further evidence of "a deeply troubling reality of individuals who believe they hold absolute power over our natural wildlife - power they abuse to the point of crushing birds under their feet until they die."

"This is cruelty in its purest form," BirdLife Malta said, adding that the case was not only a conservation issue but also "a serious animal welfare concern that should shock society as a whole."

The environmental organisation called on the public to "stand up and express its disgust", saying Malta had reached a point where "respect for nature and basic decency towards wildlife are eroding before our eyes."

"Let us be clear: this is not tradition. This is not science. This is nothing but cruelty, driven by unrestrained egoism and a distorted sense of entitlement," the NGO said.

BirdLife Malta also used the incident to criticise what it described as attempts by the hunting lobby to portray itself as a community of animal lovers, saying the footage stripped away any "greenwashing" efforts.

"The reality speaks for itself: protected birds are being brutally killed, even Barn Owls - species they claim to be reintroducing - are being shot by hunters from within the same lobby, while members within their ranks, including council members, have been found breaking the law by both local and foreign courts," it said.

The NGO further argued that the incident was not only a symptom of weak enforcement, but also the direct result of "a lobby that has been emboldened by Maltese politicians to the extent that it now feels it can act with impunity."

BirdLife Malta said Malta "deserves better" and that wildlife should be afforded "protection, respect, and dignity - not brutality."

The NGO also expressed full support for the work of the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) and the Malta Ranger Unit.

The footage at the centre of the outrage was released by CABS, which said its members witnessed the incident and that the man involved was one of 13 bird trappers caught red-handed by police over the past 10 days.

According to CABS, officers found 20 sets of clap-nets as well as 56 live and three dead birds during the recent operations. The confiscated live birds - mostly Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Linnets and Siskins - were taken to the government vet and are expected to be released soon.

CABS said the Gozo case could lead to particularly severe punishment, noting that the Common Kestrel is a strictly protected falcon species.

It said the footage shows the man running towards the entangled bird, crushing it to death with his boot, then throwing the carcass into a bush.

"The footage is hard to watch and a cautionary example for the complete lack of empathy and compassion with which many poachers act," CABS Press Officer Axel Hirschfeld said.

The video also allegedly shows the man scrambling to collect cages after realising police were approaching. CABS said its cameras captured him pretending to be in physical distress in an apparent attempt to distract officers while hiding evidence - believed to be an illegal bird-calling machine - in a nearby bean field.

ADPD the Green Party also reacted saying it condemn without reservation "this senseless act of cruelty against this bird and the destruction of Maltese fauna, which is our collective natural heritage. This incident clearly demonstrates the need for increased surveillance in the countryside through more specialized police, equipped with all the support and resources they require.'

Despite the provisions of the law and warnings from the European Commission against trapping, the Government has continued to permit this practice and has even validated it by issuing new licenses; this fosters a sense of impunity among many trappers and hunters, who feel they are above the law. The Government must immediately prioritize biodiversity, environmental protection, and international laws and treaties over partisan interests. The Government speaks eloquently about Maltese natural heritage - for example, in the Malta Vision 2050 - but there is a vast gulf between their words and their actions.'

'We acknowledge with satisfaction the immediate action taken by the police, who are working under great pressure to keep up with the flagrant violations of environmental laws.'"