Flamingos shot

Two greater flamingos were yesterday retrieved after they were illegally shot, in another shocking wave of illegal hunting. This particular bird was so severely injured that it had to be put down.

Two Greater Flamingos were yesterday retrieved with gunshot injuries in another round of illegal hunting incidents.

Birdlife Malta said that the first incident happened early in the morning in Ħal Far. “BirdLife Malta and the Police were called on site by a person who witnessed the bird being shot at and then falling some distance from where it was hit. The Flamingo lost a lot of blood and was certified by the vet as having serious gunshot injuries to its right wing which was completely fractured. Nothing could be done to save it and the bird had to be put down.”

BirdLife Malta’s Conservation Manager Nicholas Barbara, who was on site with the Police, described this incident as disgusting and unfair especially after two other Flamingos were recently saved after they got stranded.

“This Flamingo is a different bird than the two birds retrieved a few weeks ago and which recently attracted a lot of attention when one of them landed at Għadira Bay amongst swimmers.”

Later in the day, Birdlife informed the press of another illegal hunting incident. The group said it had retrieved a second shot Flamingo, this time from Marsaskala.

“This second injured Flamingo retrieved in a day, this time an adult, becomes the 11th known shot protected bird this autumn hunting season and it is being kept under observation after it was also confirmed shot by the veterinarian,” Birdlife said.

The organisation again called on the government to take action in the wake of these latest incidents. It also reiterated its call for an improved enforcement drive and asked the Government to set up as soon as possible a Wildlife Crime Unit within the Malta Police Force.

The Parliamentary Secretary responsible for hunting, Clint Camilleri, condemned the incidents which, he said, harm legitimate hunting. He insisted that those responsible should be brought to justice.