Illegal bird trappers caught in Pembroke and Salini – 25 live birds seized by police

The Committee Against Bird Slaughter said that its investigations have led to the arrest of two illegal finch trappers and the seizure of 25 live birds during the weekend.

In the first case officers of the Administrative Law Enforcement caught a poacher red-handed on a trapping site close to Pembroke after CABS alerted the authorities on Sunday morning. 10 live finches and numerous trapping paraphernalia including clap nets, springs and cages were confiscated by the police. The trapper admitted that his trapping site was not licenced and will be taken to court.

On the same day CABS also observed and filmed a finch trapper on a non-licenced site near Ghallis Tower in the Salini area. The man had set up an active clap net and 15 cages with live decoys including Goldfinches, Hawfinches, Siskins and Linnets.

When the police arrived, the poacher escaped but later police confirmed that they have identified him on the basis of his car´s number plate and the footage taken by CABS.

In a third case the Law Court in Victoria found a man from Ghajnsielem guilty of illegally trapping finches during the closed season and using an illegal bird caller in March this year. He was filmed and reported by members of a CABS team who were also called as witnesses during the trial on Thursday. The man was given a €700 fine and his trapping licence was revoked for two years.

CABS Wildlife Crime Officer Fiona Burrows praised the suspension of the licence but criticised the €700 fine as being “insignificant” and in conflict with the announcement of the government´s declared policy of tough action against illegal bird hunting and trapping.