Fully aware of the situation in the country due to the COVID-19 crisis, BirdLife Malta cannot but expess its anger in regard to the rampant illegal hunting and trapping which are still going on in the countryside at this moment in time.
In the work still being carried out by BirdLife Malta, we are on a daily basis contending with a number of illegal hunting and trapping incidents. Every piece of evidence is being handed over to police from the Administrative Law Enforcement (ALE) unit, or district police. Whilst there are cases where police will be taking action, there are many others where this is not possible.
BirdLife Malta is understanding that this year’s spring hunting season will not be opened, disappointed abuse is still taking place
Whilst BirdLife Malta is understanding that in the present circumstances this year’s spring hunting season will not be opened, it is a pity that a number of birds migrating to Europe to breed are being killed or caught in Malta. BirdLife Malta will continue to monitor the situation in the countryside around Malta and Gozo and calls for more responsibility to be shown in this delicate time when the country’s resources are being shifted to manage the Coronavirus pandemic, with very little available for wildlife crime enforcement.
BirdLife Malta would like to take the opportunity to thank and augur the best to all those working to address the situation we are in and ensure that it does not escalate including the Government, the health authorities, and army and police personnel, in particular the ALE section. It is hoped that we will soon put this crisis behind us.
Read the Maltese version of the press release here.