BirdLife Malta expresses its solidarity with the woman who was reportedly hit three times by hunting pellets while walking her dogs in Selmun, as well as with all those who have been harassed or put at risk while using Malta’s countryside.
BirdLife Malta has always stated that protecting birds and conserving nature is not only an environmental issue, but a social one too. Nature is for people too.
This is a grave and deeply unfair situation that cannot go unnoticed. The countryside has been allowed to be taken over by a hunting culture in which, far too often, hunters appear to believe they can do as they please.
This is the result of years of weakened enforcement, weakened laws and tolerance towards those who break them. The Government and the FKNK must take responsibility for the culture they have helped create and stop remaining silent when people and protected wildlife are put at risk.
The public is angry, and rightly so. People have a right to enjoy the countryside safely. It is time to get our priorities right.
Read our statement in Maltese here.