Latest Shooting in Malta (1 Viewer)

[A CHAPLIN]

Sorry Folks,

Yet another killing incident to report in Malta in a protected area with swimmers nearby. The police are asking for anyone with video clips, photos etc. to please come forward. I know it is a long shot but if any of you was there please get in touch.

Can I please also ask as birdlovers, any of you going to Malta, keep your cameras and videos at the ready, even a vehicle number plate will be acted upon. The police are doing all they can but need everybody's help.

As you will see from the report below the shooting was obviously planned to coincide (again) when police forces were deployed elsewhere.

Thank you.

Ann

Hunters shoot Red-breasted Merganser in Ghadira by di-ve news


MARSASCALA, Malta (di-ve news) -- November 22, 2005 -- 1700CET --Birdlife
Malta reported that on Tuesday morning, a number of hunters drove a
speedboat into Ghadira and shot a Red-breasted merganser close to the sandy
beach.

The nature organisation said that the shooting was a live remake of the
white swans' killing in Marsascala in 2002.

It said that people on the beach alerted BirdLife Malta immediately but
efforts to get some police presence proved futile as security forces are
stretched to their limits for the CHOGM meeting. The organisation said that
it summoned help from the Police HQs, ALE, Qawra and Mellieha police
stations to no avail.

ALE police were later on site to gather information and it is understood
they are carrying out investigations.

People told BirdLife Malta that a white speedboat with a yellow, red and
blue pattern with four men on board drove into the bay not only within a
three kilometre protected zone but further into the swimmers' zone and fired
two shots, killing the bird in full view of tourists on the beach and
strolling along the promenade. The men picked up the dead bird and fled out
in speed towards the open sea, possibly to land the dead bird away from
public eyesight in the environs of Mistra, Selmun or St. Paul's Bay.

The bird had made an appearance in the morning, staying less than 50 metres
from the beach whilst resting and diving for food.

BirdLife Malta said that complaints about illegal hunting were rife in the
past three weeks and included hunting on Sunday afternoon.

"Hunters were also scouring Buskett regularly and in bright of day for
woodcocks, blatantly in view of members of the public. In one instance a
hunter was heard shouting to another across the valley whether he had
sighted a flushed woodcock."

BirdLife Malta is appealing to members of the public who may have witnessed
this incident to provide information and photos in order to help with police
investigations.
The illegal act of the hunters is a serious offence and if found guilty, the
penalty attracts a fine up to Lm1,000 and confiscation of the corpus
delicti.

 

[Gus Horsley]

Makes the blood boil doesn't it? Keep up the good work Ann. I don't fancy a holiday to Malta any more though.

Gus

 

[DKR]

Shame on Malta!

Thanks for posting.

There is an interesting article on hunting in Malta in todays Independent newspaper. I haven't got a scanner but have posted a pic below.

The text can be read HERE (click 'HERE')

I'm posting the pages from the newspaper to the Maltese Tourist Office.

 

[A CHAPLIN]

:storm: To DKR,

Thanks for the newspaper article which proves to me anyway, they have no intention of stopping the murder of birds and it is time the EU Directive was enforced. Surely if Malta has not enough police or resources the EU should have a protection force in existence for such cases (if not why not) and send them to Malta. Sorry I can't find the right words again, but if the EU Directive is law it should be enforced by a special agency devoted to just protecting the birds and immobolised (or whatever) when the law is broken (especially to this degree, single cases may be difficult but this is mass murder). Malta must be made to abide by the EU Directive immediately, or it will send out the wrong message to other states.

Thank you again for the newspaper article and I am for one am writing (again) to the EU Commisioners.

Ann

 

[Hanno]

I went to Malta on business a few years back, but will refuse to go back and spend another Dollar there until the hunting issue has been resolved.

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi Hanno,

Thanks that's how I feel on the other hand I wish I had the nerve and money to get a "posse" together and harass them see how they like it. I don't believe in violent protest but reading in that article the numbers of hunters there are, I think it is going to take a lot to stop them.

The hunters are determined to prove they "rule" after all look how many times now the killings happen when the police are elsewhere, galas, meetings etc.and so out in the open near public beaches. Fancy buying big expensive speed boats to shoot birds, the money could be spent looking after them and attracting more visitors to the island.

It is time it was stopped.

Ann:storm:

 

[Hanno]

But it would have to be a heavily armed "Posse", these guys are well kitted out.

 

[Gus Horsley]

But it would have to be a heavily armed "Posse", these guys are well kitted out.

Judging by some of the posts on these forums I think we could gather together sufficient hooligans to put the fear of god into anybody on the planet! We should be able to at least talk them into submission.

Gus

 

[London Birder]

lol Gus ..

what a truly disgusting situation out there ... won't be long before somebody is killed (if it hasn't happened already)

 

[Jodd]

Malta - Hunters shoot Red-breasted Merganser in Ghadira.

Disgusting!

Last year I overhead a conversation whilst out birdwatching about a Maltese hunter actually receiving a trophy for killing the last bird of a particular species on the island. I am not sure what bird it was (there are several to choose from!) - What sort of achievement is this? Am I missing something here? What sort of mentality have these people got. The people who were having the conversation were equally as disgusted.

It's a sad fact that millions of birds are killed every year in the Mediterranean, including about 100,000 birds of prey. These totals may be more than 15% of the total number that spend the winter in, or migrate to that area. When will it end?

Jo

 

[christineredgate]

Ann this is truly a disgrace,so very sad that these birds should be hunted and shot in this way.A reflection of society in this country.

 

[Hanno]

Of course, the Maltese claim that it is an old, time-honored tradition. The worst part of it, for me, is wwhen they shoot birds from the cliffs. The birds are lost in the water, so there is not even the "excuse" that the hunting is done for food or trophies.

 

[Bubbs]

lol Gus ..

what a truly disgusting situation out there ... won't be long before somebody is killed (if it hasn't happened already)

If you can access the injury figures for hunters shooting each other accidentally, you will find that the figures are quite horrific..and I mean deaths.

The figures, for some reason, are never published in the press but deaths and injuries run into hundreds.

John.

 

[Mary Evelyn]

If you can access the injury figures for hunters shooting each other accidentally, you will find that the figures are quite horrific..and I mean deaths.

The figures, for some reason, are never published in the press but deaths and injuries run into hundreds.

John.

Not the best solution but I have absolutely no sympathy for the hunters.

 

[The Moore-hen]

Really Sorry!!!

Im a Maltese citizen and also an environmentalist...I ve been hearing too much complains and murmurs about my country's disgusting state of how some of as face this national problem.....I can assure you all that everyone naturelover is disgusted about the fact that hunting is still practised in Malta....In fact it is the only EU member with legal spring hunting....It is suppose that this problem will partially end after the 31st December 2008...BirdLife Malta is still working to control this legalised murder....unfortunately it is not find too much co-operation from the government....in fact few weeks ago there were some people which saw some hunters going for hunting inside a natural reserve, Il-Buskett. It was a shame that the police were strechened to thin, taking care of the CHOGM...The Commonwealth's Meeting....Few funds to the police caused this crime to take place.....I WISH THAT EVERYONE OF U TRIES TO DO HIS BEST AND SUPPORT BIRDLIFE MALTA TO NEUTRALIZE HUNTING AND TRAPPING!!!

 

[Otto McDiesel]

How about encouraging Maltese hunters to go in UK and hunt there, say, boar and pheasant, and whatever is legal and sustainable? It cold take some of the pressure off Malta.

 

[Bubbs]

How about encouraging Maltese hunters to go in UK and hunt there, say, boar and pheasant, and whatever is legal and sustainable? It cold take some of the pressure off Malta.

Or even better persuade them to go to the states.

John

 

[Otto McDiesel]

Or even better persuade them to go to the states.

John

Sounds great. We'll make money off them, and use the money to preserve more species and land.

 

[A CHAPLIN]

Hi MaGGot,

Thank you for your post and a bit late but welcome to Birdforum. It is good to have a Maltese member especially one who feels as I do about the murder of birds.

As you say the police are stretched to the limit but do what they can, odd that some of the most recent incidents have taken place while they were on duty at parades or elsewhere, I hope none of them are involved with the hunting which obviously some of your government are.

I would be very grateful if you could please find the time to give us regular updates especially as spring is on the way. If you do not want to post on the Forum, please feel free to PM me, I am very concerned about the murder of no doubt thousands of birds. I recently wrote to the EU Commissioner myself but have had no reply so am writing again.

Thank you.

Ann

 

[The Moore-hen]

Hi Ann,

I'll be very gald to give u updates...and thanks for your attention to this issue - the maltese spring hunting. It is not so usual that forgein environmental sites give this issue an importance.