A ranger in charge of the Foresta 2000 project at Mellieha yesterday
morning saved a rare booted eagle (Ajkla tal-Kalzetti) from certain
death when he confronted a hunter who was stalking the bird and
about to shoot it.
The ranger, who is employed by Din l-Art Helwa and BirdLife, and who
did not wish to be mentioned by name, has been in charge of the
area, which falls within the protected zone surrounding the Ghadira
nature reserve, since last August. He said he saw the eagle flying
low and settling in one of the trees at the break of dawn.
Some 10 minutes later, he saw a car approaching and a hunter went
out and ran towards where the eagle had settled, which prompted the
ranger to give chase.
The ranger caught up with the hunter, who was under the tree under
which the eagle had settled and informed him that he was within the
confines of a nature reserve. An argument ensued but the hunter left.
Police from the Administrative Law Enforcement Unit, who were
patrolling the area, were called and went on site within minutes.
The ranger said he suspected the eagle had already been shot at and
was wounded because it did not fly after it had settled, and when it
took off later, it settled again across the valley. Ironically this
time it chose a hunter's hide to settle on, close to Anchor Bay.
The bird later flew off again and again flew low.
ALE police were trying to trace the hunter, who is likely to face
charges of attempting to shoot a protected bird and hunting within
the confines of a bird sanctuary.
Booted eagles breed in Southern Europe and North Africa. Most, if
not all individuals migrate to Africa, but this year there has been
a phenomenon with Spanish birds migrating east rather than south.
The bird seen in Malta might well be one of these birds.
The booted eagle is one of the 17 birds listed as strictly protected
species, and fines for killing or attempting to kill them can be as
high as Lm1,000.
But neither the fines nor the existing enforcement seem to be
deterring some hunters as rare species are still shot down. Short-
toed eagles were killed earlier this year, and the police managed to
find a hunter who had just killed one of two birds.
Other species of birds of prey as well as large birds such as
storks, herons, owls, spoonbills and small colourful birds such as
hoopoes and orioles have met their fate at hunters' hands.
In a statement yesterday, Nature Trust (Malta) raised the issue of
law enforcement in a statement about the budget.
The environmental NGO said it was very pleased to note that the
budget for 2005 has this time round addressed the issue of the
environment, naming it as one of three key areas for the government,
but questioned how certain areas involved with law enforcement have
not been mentioned and that bodies like the ALE Unit of the Police
and environmental inspectors of the Malta Environment and Planning
Authority seem low on the agenda.
From the Times of Malta 30. November 2004
Greg Lambe
on behalf of 'Proact International'
http://proaction.tripod.com/
morning saved a rare booted eagle (Ajkla tal-Kalzetti) from certain
death when he confronted a hunter who was stalking the bird and
about to shoot it.
The ranger, who is employed by Din l-Art Helwa and BirdLife, and who
did not wish to be mentioned by name, has been in charge of the
area, which falls within the protected zone surrounding the Ghadira
nature reserve, since last August. He said he saw the eagle flying
low and settling in one of the trees at the break of dawn.
Some 10 minutes later, he saw a car approaching and a hunter went
out and ran towards where the eagle had settled, which prompted the
ranger to give chase.
The ranger caught up with the hunter, who was under the tree under
which the eagle had settled and informed him that he was within the
confines of a nature reserve. An argument ensued but the hunter left.
Police from the Administrative Law Enforcement Unit, who were
patrolling the area, were called and went on site within minutes.
The ranger said he suspected the eagle had already been shot at and
was wounded because it did not fly after it had settled, and when it
took off later, it settled again across the valley. Ironically this
time it chose a hunter's hide to settle on, close to Anchor Bay.
The bird later flew off again and again flew low.
ALE police were trying to trace the hunter, who is likely to face
charges of attempting to shoot a protected bird and hunting within
the confines of a bird sanctuary.
Booted eagles breed in Southern Europe and North Africa. Most, if
not all individuals migrate to Africa, but this year there has been
a phenomenon with Spanish birds migrating east rather than south.
The bird seen in Malta might well be one of these birds.
The booted eagle is one of the 17 birds listed as strictly protected
species, and fines for killing or attempting to kill them can be as
high as Lm1,000.
But neither the fines nor the existing enforcement seem to be
deterring some hunters as rare species are still shot down. Short-
toed eagles were killed earlier this year, and the police managed to
find a hunter who had just killed one of two birds.
Other species of birds of prey as well as large birds such as
storks, herons, owls, spoonbills and small colourful birds such as
hoopoes and orioles have met their fate at hunters' hands.
In a statement yesterday, Nature Trust (Malta) raised the issue of
law enforcement in a statement about the budget.
The environmental NGO said it was very pleased to note that the
budget for 2005 has this time round addressed the issue of the
environment, naming it as one of three key areas for the government,
but questioned how certain areas involved with law enforcement have
not been mentioned and that bodies like the ALE Unit of the Police
and environmental inspectors of the Malta Environment and Planning
Authority seem low on the agenda.
From the Times of Malta 30. November 2004
Greg Lambe
on behalf of 'Proact International'
http://proaction.tripod.com/