Malta Pages - Latest News
The Last update From Malta - February 8th 2005
Last Autumn there was little let up in the killing of migrating raptors over Malta despite the incorporation of this island nation to the EU earlier in 2004. Between 1.5 and 3 million birds of all kinds (including 5,000 - 10,000 birds of prey) are still falling to the guns of Malta annually. And we can expect more killing as the birds start to return from Africa next month because the EU Birds Directive was specifically derogated to allow the Maltese to be the only European nation permited to shoot migrants during Spring, just prior to their nesting season.
Although this is confined on paper to two species (Quail and Turtle Doves) it means that Maltese hunters can legitimately roam the island with guns during Spring, making policing very difficult.
The expectations of conservation agencies that accession to the EU would significantly reduce the killing will only be fulfilled when the policing measures become balanced to the scale of the problem. The special police force on Malta for dealing with wildlife crime (The ALE) is still outnumbered by those willing to commit the crimes by several hundred to one.
There are some positive signs on the horizon: Gozo, which is the second major island on the Maltese archipelago and has been a hotbed of illegal hunting, got its own ALE division for the first time last Spring and Birdlife Malta report that this has made a significant difference. Birdlife Malta continue to call for harsher penalties for wildlife crime and significantly two of the hunters found guilty of killing the swans at St Thomas Bay in front of tourists two years ago were sent to prison last year for 6 month and 21 month jail terms respectively. There are even some signs that the hunting lobby may not be as key in tipping elections as has been feared by the two major political parties in the past. The newly formed Ornis Committee is considering development of a green wardening system at vulnerable localities.
Events On Malta 2004/2005
18 September 2004 - Natalino Fenech reports that flamingos are shot at Marsascala and short toed eagle shot at Dwejra.
19 October 2004 - Max Farrugia reports killers of the swans at St Thomas Bay were jailed for 6-21 months, stripped of boat, guns and banned from hunting effectively for life.
30 November 2004 - Natalino Fenech reports that a ranger at Mellieha managed to save a Booted Eagle from a hunter but sadly it appeared injured. Perhaps it was one of the birds migrating East from Spain.
11 December 2004 - Justin Vassallo reports that Gozo scuba divers were horrified to have a cormorant shot 10 feet from them in the water - the police at Victoria where they reported it thought it was funny.
7 January 2005 - Herman Grech reports a gruesome find by police at Malta airport - eagles amongst many animal skins recovered from suitcases which were delayed on an incoming flight from Egypt.
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