Malta Pages - The Shocking Shooting Statistics
The Destruction of Birds of Prey un the Central Mediterranean
It is in the Central Mediterranean that historically and currently, migrating birds of prey have been most heavily persecuted. An estimated 5,000 raptors are shot annually on Malta, and a large unknown number (which may be greater) are being killed from power-boats offshore (Joe Sultana pers. comm.).
A mortality estimate by Portelli of 8,500 per annum seems real - this represents one quarter to one third of the total making the trip. Portelli points out that the number is highly variable - worst kill rates are when a major migration event coincides with a public holiday on Malta. Several hundred Honey Buzzards are thought to have been killed on just two days in Malta last year.
The scale and the nature of the killing of these protected birds is unacceptable and makes a mockery of intense and expensive efforts to conserve individual birds on their breeding grounds. The killing of thousands of birds of prey each year at their vulnerable bottleneck in Malta is a very weak link in our conservation programme.
A mortality estimate by Portelli of 8,500 per annum seems real -
The scale and the nature of the killing of these protected birds is unacceptable and makes a mockery of intense and expensive efforts to conserve individual birds on their breeding grounds. The killing of thousands of birds of prey each year at their vulnerable bottleneck in Malta is a very weak link in our conservation programme.
Migration is not only a magical spectacle, it serves an important ecological role whereby European raptors such as Lesser Kestrels are able to prevent outbreaks of pests such as locusts in South Africa. This vital role is being compromised by the actions of a minority on one tiny island.
Illegal shot - Maltese hunters pack their cartridges at home with small ball bearings which can kill or maim birds of prey at great distance
A hunter's gun glints in the early morning sun from a concrete blind.
We watched this hunter blast a Hobby earlier.
We watched this hunter blast a Hobby earlier.
The summer palace of the President of Malta overlooking the historic nature reserve of Buskett. A few years ago a bedroom window was shattered by shot aimed at a Honey Buzzard. The President's wife complained and an arrest was made.
Legal game - the migratory Turtle Dove and Quail are the principal legal targets of hunters in Malta. But legitimate shooting of these birds during Spring has just been allowed to continue by the EU. It makes it extremely difficult to enforce the law when hunters are allowed to shoot these birds even before dawn and after dark!
Hunters deny there is a financial motive for what they do but this stuffed Osprey would earn £450 if sold - enough to help pay any fines - and the 'sport' is now being exported to Egypt and elsewhere
Today arrests are more easily made but the Administrative Law Enforcement Unit are outnumbered by hunters on Malta by 800 to 1. Under-resourcing of this unit comes about because the government feel they need the hunters' favour to stay in power..
Some are terribly injured. This Marsh Harrier flew past us at Buskett in September last year with its leg blown away - it was trying to land in agony and was killed moments later...
