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gozotoday | FRIDAY • 18 SEPTEMBER 2026
NEWS
Poacher caught
shooting turtle dove
in Gozo four hours
after season closed
A poacher was caught allegedly
shooting a turtle dove in Gozo
just four hours after the hunting
season quota had been reached
and the season closed, according
to the Malta Ranger Unit.
The ranger unit said one of its
rangers in Gozo heard a hunter
firing what appeared to be an il-
legal shotgun, with five consec-
utive shots heard instead of the
permitted three.
The ranger subsequently spot-
ted the man allegedly shooting
a turtle dove before hiding the
bird, the unit said in a Facebook
post.
According to the Malta Rang-
er Unit, the incident occurred
around four hours after the quota
for turtle dove had been reached
and hunters had been informed
by the Wild Birds Regulation
Unit that the season had closed.
The Police were alerted and,
following evidence gathered by
the ranger, Gozo Police officers
managed to identify the suspect
immediately.
The suspect is expected to
face court proceedings over the
alleged illegalities. The Malta
Ranger Unit thanked the Gozo
Police for their "quick assis-
tance".
The organisation also used the
incident to renew its call for the
deployment of an Environmen-
tal Protection Unit (EPU) police
unit in Gozo.
"Gozo STILL doesn't have an
EPU Police unit," the ranger unit
said, arguing that such a unit
would help deter illegal hunting
practices and increase the chanc-
es of offenders being caught.
The ranger unit said one of its rangers in Gozo heard a hunter firing what appeared to be an illegal shotgun, with five
consecutive shots heard instead of the permitted three
