Rampant illegal hunting in Gozo

The migration season started with large numbers of bangs and shots owing to the sudden change in the weather in the early days of September. Large flock of birds flew over Malta, particularly birds of prey and herons and flamingos. A number of these were shot down and the police also made some arrests but still the promised enforcement is lacking, particularly during the week.

It seems that this year the shooters are concentrating their hunting activities much more on Gozo, the sister island, than on Malta, because on Gozo enforcement leaves much to be desired. During a spell of good weather when migration was less than normal a jogger reported that a night heron had been shot down. The jogger, Ms Anastasi, remained next to the bird until members of the ALE (wildlife police department) arrived on site. She was informed that the bird would be taken to the quarantine section of the department where all injured birds are kept. In a comment on Facebook Ms Anastasi made this appeal: “If you do come across an injured bird or animal, just call the police on 112 or the Animal Welfare Ambulance on 7996 9918 and they will help you. It doesn’t take much and it gives great satisfaction knowing that you have played a part in saving a life. Please do not turn a blind eye.”

News continued pouring in from Gozo and yesterday sources next to the police stated that a man had been arrested and was being questioned after a considerable number of stuffed protected birds were found in his residence in Xaghra, Gozo.

The police raided the house following a tip-off. They found 80 undeclared stuffed protected birds in his collection and a number of others were also found in a freezer. According to the same source they included flamingos, ospreys, kites and storks. MEPA Environment officials are compiling a list of the finds.

Following these incidents, a car which is being used by a group of researchers working on the Malta Seabirds project was shot at several times where it was parked in Gozo. This car is well known to the hunters because it is being used frequently. The Malta Seabird Project is funded under the EU Life project. The researchers heard the shots but because they were at the edge of the cliff quite far away from their car they did not recognise the person shooting. They realised that their car had been shot at when they returned about two hours later. Apart from the marks from the lead pellets the car also had a number of dents.

The car was riddled with pellets by the time the
researchers returned to it

The Bird camps on Malta and Gozo started earlier this month. The Birdlife camp commenced a week ago while the CABS camp started on Friday 13 September.

On Sunday shortly after midday two poachers shot down a strictly protected Black stork in the Valley of San Blas where lot of shooting takes place. The bird was still alive when it was recovered but died soon after it was handed to the Gozo Police Patrol which was called to the scene. The bird was a juvenile born only a few months ago and was on its first migration to its wintering quarters in Africa. The report was triggered by a witness who saw the shooting and reported the case. Since the arrival of CABS on Gozo the patrols in Gozo have been beefed up and are working hand in hand with the CABS camp guards. A spokesman for CABS said they were grateful to the person who alerted the guards and also to the prompt intervention of the Gozo Police because such action is important to curb illegal hunting.

The black stork, shot down by hunters, died soon after
it was discovered.

The illegal shooting which took place on Saturday was followed by a number of illegal killings of protected species the following day on the north islands. Observers saw hunters killing honey buzzards in the Buskett Area, whilst other reports of shooting at birds of prey were received from various areas in the south of Malta. CABS guards filmed a number of attempts to kill protected species and also reported a trapper in the Mgarr area to the police . Trapping is allowed at this time of year but the trapper was using illegal clap nets. In all, in a short period of three hours CABS reported six illegalities. The 40 guards from various countries in Europe will be in Malta for the next three weeks.

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Environmentalists welcome increased police presence to combat illegal birdhunting on Malta

The annual operation run by the German group Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) to protect migrating birds from being shot illegally on the Island of Malta starts this weekend (14 September.) This year the group includes more than 40 volunteers from nine countries. The guards taking  part in the camps will be stationed on both Malta and Gozo.

The main aim of the CABS teams is to deter the shooting down of protected migrating bird species. Its bird guards will also search for illegal bird traps, nets and electronic decoy devices and report them to the law enforcement agencies.

CABS said it welcomed the announcement by Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes that more than 100 police officers, including mounted patrols, will be deployed to combat poaching this autumn.  CABS President Heinz Schwarze said that everyone was delighted to hear that the Administrative Law Enforcement unit (ALE) was at last being reinforced and will now hopefully also be capable of more proactive action against poaching. In this connection the group praised the professional work of the ALE unit and the Gozo police, which led to the arrest of flamingo killers earlier in the week.

The CABS team will include a number of professional ornithologists and biologists with considerable field experience in various countries in Central and Southern Europe. They will be open to having contact with members of the public and ready to discuss or advise on ornithological or environmental matters.

The operation will continue until the end of September and will be conducted in close co-operation with International Animal Rescue Malta, BirdLife Malta and the Malta Police Force. The CABS teams on Gozo will be supported by members of the German Foundation Pro Biodiversity (SPA), which is also supporting the camp with a significant financial contribution. 

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Changes to Autumn Hunting Introduced

The Malta government has announced the autumn hunting season and revealed that the hours of the mid-season curfew will be reduced. The news has been welcomed by the FKNK, the hunters’ federation, as the government’s first step towards the eliminating the curfew, which it said was imposed on the hunting season. However, environmental and animal welfare groups have strongly criticised the government for not protecting migrating birds from illegal hunters.

The Government stated that, on the recommendation of the Ornis Committee, the season will open on 1 September and close on 31 January for hunting on land and open on 1 October for hunting at sea. The dates are unchanged from previous years but a curfew after 3 pm between September 15 and 30 has been reduced. The hunting of birds on land shall be permitted during two hours before sunrise and two hours after sunset on any day between Monday and Saturday and during two hours before sunrise and after 1pm on Sundays and public holidays.

However hunting on land between 15 September and 7 October will not be permitted from Mondays to Saturdays after 7pm, nor during the two hours before sunrise of the following day.

This action is a clear confirmation that the government is gradually giving in to the hunting lobby and has no environmental conscience whatsoever. Max Farrugia, Chairman of International Animal Rescue in Malta, said: “This is not an electoral mandate because I could not trace it in the electoral manifesto but might be part of the talks which the hunting lobby group and the government had before the elections. I am convinced that this legal notice regarding the hunting season will give a green light for more illegal hunting even though the government has insisted that the police and army will be joining forces to curb the illegalities and that there will be zero tolerance.

“I am sure that the politically appointed Chairman  of Ornis, who I know used to be a bird watcher in his teens, knows well that birds of prey such as vultures, eagles and falcons leave the Sicilian coast and cross the Sicilian straits, reaching the Maltese Islands after 3pm. It is then that the illegal hunters embark on their killing and destruction.”

Farrugia added that everyone knows that Maltese hunters are very difficult to control and in his opinion this is why hunting was not allowed after 3 pm.

The Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting (CASH) which was set up a few days before the legal notice was issued, condemned the government’s decision to reduce the hunting curfew between 15-30 September by four hours. A spokesperson for the coalition said this was a clear sign that there was little interest from the government in ensuring the conservation of migratory birds over the Maltese Islands.

The coalition urged the Maltese public to sign its petition calling for a referendum to ban spring hunting. "This is an opportunity to show that the Maltese population cares for wildlife, bird conservation and democracy," it said.

 During recent days shots have been heard in the south of the island in the notorious areas of Zonqor Point and Marsascala. The first migrating birds have already started to pass over Malta and already the first victim has been brought in - a night heron with an injured wing.

Three flamingos were also shot down when a flock flew over Malta and some of them tried to make a stopover. With the help of some local residents the police managed to trace the killers and those who helped in the killing of one flamingo in Gozo and five people were arrested. The bird was found in a freezer. According to eye witnesses the bird was shot down and fell in the sea where it was retrieved by a hunting dog.

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Petition Launched for a Referendum on Abolition of Spring Hunting

The 'Coalition for the Abolition of Spring Hunting' (CASH) has formally launched a petition calling for the holding of a referendum on the abolition of spring hunting.

The coalition is made up of the Ramblers Association of Malta, Nature Trust, Moviment Graffiti, International Animal Rescue Malta, Greenhouse Malta, Gaia Foundation, Friends of the Earth Malta, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Coalition for Animal Rights, BirdLife Malta and Alternattiva Demokratika.

The petition reads:

“We the undersigned persons being registered as voters for the election of members of the House of Representatives demand that the question whether the following provision of law, that is to say Framework for Allowing a Derogation Opening a Spring Hunting Season for Turtledove and Quail Regulations (Subsidiary Legislation 504.94 – Legal Notice 221 of 2010), should not continue in force, shall be put to those entitled to vote in a referendum under Part V of the Referendum Act.”

In order for the referendum to be called at least 34,000 Maltese who are eligible to vote in a general election must sign the petition. The petition for the referendum cannot be signed online. Copies of the petition are being made  available from cashmalta2013@gmail.com or from the members  of the Coalition mentioned above. 

During a press conference coalition spokesperson Rudolph Ragonesi described the referendum as a “real chance for the people of Malta to end the cat and mouse game between the European Union and Malta that means spring hunting continues against the wishes of the vast majority of the Maltese population.”

Members of the coalition complained during the press conference that both major political parties had committed themselves to protect spring hunting. Max Farrugia from International Animal Rescue Malta said that during the election campaign protection of spring hunting was one of the issues but soon after the elections the new government removed the €50 special licence fee and identification armbands for registered hunters. As a result there were 50% more registered hunters during the spring hunting season of 2013 compared with 2012.

It is worth noting that spring hunting is possible in Malta through a derogation of the EU Birds Directive.  Hunting is allowed in spring for Turtle Dove (Gamiema) and Quail (Summiena) but both have become species of conservation concern because their numbers are declining so rapidly in Europe, the coalition said.  Continued hunting in spring put Malta at risk of action such as fines from the EU.

It was stated in the press conference that "From a conservation and hunting point of view  it makes no sense to hunt birds that are returning to their breeding grounds. These are the birds that have survived the winter and would replenish bird populations if they reached their breeding grounds. Killing them in spring is therefore unsustainable." 

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NO FINCH TRAPPING IN MALTA THIS AUTUMN

Maltese bird trappers who had high hopes that they would be allowed to start trapping during the coming October and November, have been told that this year there will be no finch-trapping but that the government is preparing for next year’s season.

The trappers were notified by the Hunting Federation FKNK that the autumn season for finch-trapping would not be opened this year. According to the FKNK a delegation met the Environment Minister Leo Brincat and Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Rights Roderick Galdes  earlier this week and was informed of the government's decision.

In order to pacify the angry trappers  the Federation argued that the government didn't have enough time to apply this year's derogation correctly and preferred to work on next year's, rather than do things hastily and risk receiving a total ban from the EU.

 

A trapping net used by hunters

However, the Federation assured its members that it had submitted its proposals in plenty of time to both the government and opposition for the correct application of the derogation which would allow Malta to open the autumn season. This indicates that the Federation is putting the ball firmly back in the politicians’ court.

Last year, the governing Nationalist Party applied a derogation of EU law to allow the trapping of song thrush and golden plover, a decision which was contested by the European Commission. During the election campaign the labour Government had raised high hopes among the hunters and trappers that a derogation would be sought. The angry trappers feel betrayed by the politicians.

In a meeting I had recently with the Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Rights he made it clear that any illegal hunting would be met with zero tolerance.

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The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) puts birds and tourists first in Malta

In any other country the garrique habitat of the Ta' Cenc plateau,The Ta’ Cenc Plateau, an extensive rocky garrique biotope poised high on towering cliffs above the clear blue Mediterranean, would be a treasured and protected habitat for flora and fauna. Not least because its cliffs are home to a large colony of Cory’s Shearwater, a rare seabird species.However recently a pair of Peregrine Falcons - the original ‘Maltese Falcon’ - also attempted to nest there but were shot by hunters. Situated on Malta’s small sister island of Gozo, it has become an unsupervised adventure playground for hunters and trappers from Gozo and Malta, most of whom have the aim of trapping or shooting down anything that flies. Until the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS), with whom IAR works in Malta to combat illegal hunting, decided to take a stand! After negotiations with the landowner Mr Victor Borg, who also owns the 5 star Hotel and Spa at ta Cenc adjoining the plateau, CABS  were issued with a written authorisation to ask unwanted trespassers - in particular hunters and trappers whose activities are forbidden on Mr Borg’s private land - to leave and not come back. This was one of the most important achievements since CABS arrived for their annual bird protection camp.  

The plateau is a paradise for ground roosting birds on passage. In addition to large flocks of Barn Swallows, House Martins and Swifts that criss-cross the area feeding on the plentiful insects to be found in the garrique, the bushes and grasses offer overnight cover for birds of prey such as Marsh and Montagu’s Harriers. Groups of song birds including Whinchats can be seen flitting from bush to bush, Bee-eaters and raptors pass overhead and, from time to time, the looping flight of the colourful Hoopoe delights the passer-by.  And, in addition to the other tourists and local nature lovers, who would appreciate this bi-annual spectacle if the presence of armed hunters and skulking trappers did not sully the natural beauty, are the residents of the adjacent Ta' Cenc hotel. Instead of the peace and quiet associated with a holiday in an otherwise exclusive rural location, horrified visitors from other European states are almost literally ‘blasted’ out of bed by gunfire that begins before dawn and goes on unrelentingly until well after the breakfast room closes.

Emboldened by the presence of the CABS and SPA Bird Guards in their distinctive T-shirts in and around the hotel, a delegation of guests approached the owner and asked him what action could be taken to rescue what was left of their not inexpensive holiday on Gozo. The answer was to hand. The negotiations with the CABS team leader on Gozo were swiftly concluded and, over Mr Borg’s signature, authorisation was given to members of the CABS and SPA teams to exercise domiciliary rights on behalf of the owner.

Before dawn the following morning seven Bird Guards, accompanied by local supporters to cope with any language problems, assembled at the entrance to the property. On the previous evening the Gozo police had been alerted in case of any trouble but they were to remain in reserve and act only if aggression was shown towards the Bird Guards. With one exception, which was dealt with by our competent local guides, this was not the case. After initial deployment around the perimeter by vehicle the teams swept across the plateau on foot. Seven hunters (one clearly a trapper with a live decoy Turtle Dove but no nets set out) were accosted and politely asked to leave private property. Where necessary our written accreditation was shown and explained when the hunter was unable to understand legal English. One became very excitable but was calmed down somewhat and sent away. On weekdays up to 12 hunters can be expected, but the high winds did not favour hunting. More can be expected at the weekend when many Maltese hunters cross on the ferry to hunt on Gozo.

CABS efforts were concentrated on the hunters so a detailed search for trapping paraphernalia was not carried out. Nonetheless decoy cages and pull wires were found in various locations and either removed or destroyed on the spot. Some shooting hides, most of them containing hunters,’ litter were rendered unusable. The clearance of foreign material and restructuring of the former hides (with due regard to ecological aspects) is a mid- to long-term follow up task.

On the following morning CABS and SPA teams manned the entrance gate and conducted a visual control of vehicles entering the property. No hunters attempted entry, but several vehicles were seen to approach the entrance and turn around. At about 7.00 am two vehicles entered and reported to us that they were representatives of the FKNK (spring hunting monitor) and MEPA. We informed them that the Ta’ Cenc private property area was free of hunters and advised them to monitor the valley to the south-east where shooting had taken place since dawn, which they then did. A number of local people and tourists entered the area for their morning walks, remaining on the marked tracks.

Ta’ Cenc property will continue to be monitored by CABS until the end of the bird protection camp, particularly this coming weekend (27/28 April) when hunters may arrive who are not aware that the owner’s rights to ban hunting and trapping are now being exercised.

The general public and tourists appear to be well satisfied with the ‘hunting free’ zone. It is hoped that the ecology of the area, both flora and fauna, will profit in future from the lack of disturbance, reduction in lead pollution and removal of litter and foreign materials - including hazardous waste.
Spokesman Max Farrugia for International Animal Rescue in Malta said that they are aware that the rights of other landowners on Gozo and Malta to ban hunting and trapping on their property are often abused and difficult to enforce. A proper land owned register is very important to make things much easy for those responsible for the Order in the country. He expressed the opinion that anyone with a gun on private property must have a written authorisation that he is on the site with the permission of the land owner, or that the land is rented to him.

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Record number of bird guards to monitor hunting

The Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) has announced that it will send a record 32 bird guards to Malta and Gozo during the autumn hunting season this year. It also said it had offered a drone for use by the police to detect illegal hunting, but does not intend to use one itself this time - although CABS did use one earlier this year until it was shot down.

Volunteer bird guards

The bird guards will be volunteers from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Poland, Rumania, UK and the USA.

"Operation 'Honey Buzzard' will take place at the peak of bird migration and volunteers will monitor the flight corridors and night roosts of birds of prey, storks and herons around the clock and report offences against hunting law to the police. Other tasks include the detection and checking of illegal clap nets and cage traps for trapping of Turtle Doves, Quails and protected wader species." CABS said that in order to provide evidence of illegalities for the police, each CABS team will be equipped with video cameras and high-performance spotting scopes.

"In addition CABS offered Police Commissioner John Rizzo the provision - at no cost to the police - of a remote-controlled model aircraft with high-definition video cameras and a qualified operator. This would greatly assist the ALE to detect illegal trapping sites, an important factor in the campaign against illegal trapping," CABS said. This offer was made to the police a month ago but no reply has been received yet.

"There are still two weeks to go and CABS hopes that the police will accept the offer.  CABS does not intend to use such a vehicle this time, pending the outcome of a Magisterial inquiry into their use in spring.

In spring this year CABS and the German TV station RTL were able to detect a number of illegal trapping installations by using a similar flying device.

Turtle dove

CABS said it welcomed the Maltese Government's decision once again to impose an afternoon hunting curfew for the last two weeks of September in an attempt to afford additional protection for the passage of birds of prey in this period. But they were 'appalled' by the recommendation of the Ornis Committee that the trapping of Golden Plover in clap nets should again be permitted this year. "In many parts of Europe the populations of this species have declined massively over the past few years and cannot therefore be sustainably hunted for the time being," states CABS Board Member David Conlin. CABS also points out that the use of clap nets, banned under the EU Bird Protection Guidelines, requires the issue of a so-called derogation. If Malta issues such a derogation it will with certainty be strictly scrutinised by the European Commission."

This autumn International Animal Rescue will continue its ten year collaboration with CABS in the fight against illegal shooting and trapping.

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Remote controlled aircraft gave bird’s eye view of illegal hunting and trapping in Malta

A remote controlled aircraft that was proving highly effective at detecting illegal hunting and trapping in Malta has been shot down. No wreckage has been found, even though the police were brought in to help with the search. It is believed that the aircraft, which was flying at about 80 metres, was shot at with a rifle, not a shot gun.

Hunting the poachers with the "Eye in the Sky"
Photo credit: CABS

Just before it was shot down the plane had detected a third illegal trapping site in just a few days. Although no one was spotted on the site of the shooting because of the type of terrain, as the controller turned the plane to get a better view of the trapping site a number of shots were heard and the aircraft disappeared. Footage taken by the plane was transmitted directly to the control pilot.

The German group Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) had used the plane for the first time this year in its battle against illegal bird hunting and trapping in Malta. It brought the plane out at the start of the CABS annual bird protection camp which is run with support and assistance from International Animal Rescue Malta.

Bird trapping installation at Delimara
 Photo credit: CABS

The plane was equipped with high definition cameras with live links to recorders on the ground. A Swiss pilot, who holds a world record for long-distance flying of such aircraft, was brought over to Malta to operate the aircraft which could fly up to 20 miles away from its pilot.

The aircraft had previously been shot at whilst scanning the sites at Delimara and been hit by a number of pellets. However it wasn’t badly damaged on that occasion and continued with its mission in the coming days.

CABS team monitoring the hunting
Photo credit: CABS

Axel Hirschfeld from CABS said an active trapping site had been detected near Bahrija and another 'huge' one near Delimara. Members of the Administrative Law Enforcement police (ALE) and also MEPA officials (Malta Environment Planning Authority) acted quickly, visiting the site at Delimara and viewing the footage. The ALE officials seized the trapping equipment and live protected bird species.

Police officials advised the CABS members not to fly the aircraft too low or in the vicinity of the airport. It was clearly a thorn in the flesh of the hunters and trappers who couldn’t hide their illegal activities from its bird’s eye view.

In the past three years CABS had had a lot of trouble with the hunters and there were cases where members of the group had been manhandled and had even had their cars damaged . In Malta it is very difficult to get access to certain sites, particularly where private property is concerned. It is also difficult to trace which land is or is not private property. It was because of these problems that CABS had decided to make use of a remote controlled aircraft to detect the illegalities.

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The EU keeps an eye on Malta as spring hunting season approaches

European Commission officials are expecting Malta to “stick strictly” to EU rules when it comes to the imminent spring hunting season and are keeping a watchful eye on the decisions the authorities are set to take in the coming days, according to a Commission spokesman in Brussels.

Peter Coller said that The European Commission is “closely following” the matter to ensure all the provisions of the Birds Directive and the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling against Malta in 2009 will be respected.

The news comes as the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee this week decided to keep open all six anti-hunting petitions put on the meeting’s agenda.

The petitions, submitted by non-Maltese EU citizens, urge the Commission to “stop the slaughter and massacre of birds in Malta” during the migration season. The committee is keeping them active “awaiting developments”.

Maltese bird hunters

Peter Coller added that the ECJ’s judgement left open the possibility of a “limited spring hunting season” in Malta, so long as the directive’s provisions were respected. “With regard to this year’s possible spring hunting season, the Commission has already been informed that the Maltese government intends to follow the rules and procedures established by the ECJ”, he told MEPs on the committee.

Mr Coller said that, although the Commission was of the view that the general legislative framework in place in Malta was “a significant step forward”, it was evident more enforcement was needed to better supervise the strict conditions of the hunting season.
It is clear that there has been some progress in recent years in terms of enforcement and supervision, but there is still room for further improvement. This is also the opinion of International Animal Rescue in Malta.

On behalf of all petitioners, Jean Claude Larive from the Belgian Royal Society for the Protection of Birds took the Commission to task saying Maltese authorities were trying to “kid” the EU authorities on this issue.

“It appears Malta has no intention and no will to end the massacre of migratory birds. They are just trying to gain time and keep the hunters happy,” he claimed.

“We are asking the Commission to be very firm with Malta on this issue and ensure it abides by all its undertakings,” he said.

Although no details have been released on this year’s spring hunting season, the issue is already heating up, with a number of environmental groups accusing the government of trying to appease the hunting lobby by relaxing the strict rules of last year’s limited hunting season.

In 2011, the government allowed a limited hunting season between April 13 and 30 with a maximum hunting quota of 2,500 quails and 9,000 turtle doves. Hunters were only allowed to catch one bird a day and to send an SMS to the authorities every time they caught a bird.

In a press statement BirdLife Malta stated that Ornis Committee chairman Louis Cilia was this year proposing the spring quota be set at the maximum permissible number for turtle doves and quail; the extension of the season by three days compared to 2011; and the complete removal of the daily bag limits previously established as a strict supervision condition.

In view of these proposals, International Animal Rescue Malta is in full support of BirdLife Malta’s call for Mr Cilia to resign. Alternattiva Demokratika, the Maltese Green Party is also insiting that he should resign. Mr Cilia stated yesterday that he is prepared to resign only if asked to do so by the Government.

A government official would only state that the government has not yet taken a decision on the Ornis recommendations.

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