Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/726681
5 CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Pointing this out, BirdLife CEO Mark Sul- tana said "in 2014, when similar birds were targeted and killed by hunters the Government did what was right and suspended the autumn hunting season. What has changed from 2014 till now?" "The possibility is that the will of the government to do what is right and protect birds from be- ing illegally shot is all that has changed," he said, adding that the law clearly states that the respon- sible minister "may, by means of notice in the Gazette, revise the parameters of the hunting season in any given year at any time on the basis of relevant latest scien- tific advice concerning conser- vation status and maintenance of the population of bird species at satisfactory level, or any other reason which the Minister deems to be of sufficient gravity." In reply, government said that the junior minister's statement highlighted regulations which were amended in 2015 following public consultation and this em- powered the Ornis Committee to make recommendations con- cerning the closure or alteration of any parameter of any hunting season. "Through these amendments, decisions are now taken follow- ing expert consideration of vari- ous technical factors rather than just at the discretion of the poli- tician, in line with good govern- ance principles," government said. In yesterday's statement, Galdes confirmed that the police was investigating the killing of the protected birds. "Anyone found guilty faces among the harshest court sentences in Europe." According to BirdLife Malta, one Black Stork was killed and picked up by a hunter in Gozo, whose details have been passed on to the police. "The other Black Stork, al- though suffering from gunshot injuries to the belly and had lead pellets in the left wing, had con- tinued to migrate and reached Malta where it joined three White Storks seen at the airport area, but succumbed to its inju- ries and was handed to the police. Another White Stork was earlier observed in Gozo, apparently al- so with an injury," BirdLife Malta said. It added that multiple ille- gal killings have been reported over the past few days, includ- ing Night Herons, Bee-eaters, a Golden Oriole and reportedly a Honey Buzzard. "This latest case of the Black Storks is a clear sign that with all the good intentions from gov- ernment and the Administrative Law Enforcement Unit (ALE), il- legal hunting in Malta is yet un- controlled," BirdLife Malta said. "While one cannot argue that in general terms the situation of illegal hunting in Malta has im- proved, the latter cases in the past days indicate this year could be one of the worst in recent years." Hunters condemn shooting but reject 'extreme' calls for suspension Both Kaccaturi San Ubertu and hunting federation FKNK con- demned the killing but dubbed calls for season suspension "ex- treme and deplorable". "In a democratic society, the actions of a few undesirables should never lead to castigating a law-abiding majority. Our laws and appropriate fines and impris- onment are there to castigate the few remaining people that be- lieve they are above the law," the KSU said. "KSU augurs that those who persist in breaking the law are brought to justice. We expect witnesses to testify. Even if no hard evidence is found but there were witnesses, the person who broke the law must be punished." On its part, the FKNK praised the "government's strong politi- cal will" and that of the authori- ties which, together with the 70 hunting marshals deployed by FKNK to assist in surveillance, is providing Malta "with some of the best-disciplined and law- abiding hunters and the least number of infringements, in the EU. "Unfortunately, there remain a handful of criminals whose only aim is that of harming legal hunt- ing practices, even though the killing of two protected birds is totally unrelated to hunting," the FKNK said. "The FKNK unreservedly con- demns and deplores these illegal activities." It reiterated that suspending the season for all as a collective pun- ishment "has no place in today's era". "It is undemocratic, counter- productive and unlawful," it added. "All genuine stakeholder con- servationists have to continue with the efforts exercised to date to ensure that these persons are brought to justice and the Mal- tese hunters' stigma eliminated for good." maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2016 News GourmetToday every Saturday 16.05pm on TVM Hunters: suspension is 'undemocratic and unlawful' • 6 September, Valletta: Yellow-legged Gull (Gawwija Prima) Larus cachinnans recieved with three pellets in its right wing, leg and neck and had to be euthanised • 10 September, Wied ir-Rum, limits of Dingli: at least three Night Herons (Kwakka)Nycticorax nycticorax reported seen falling to the ground after a flock of herons came under fire • 10 September, Tal-Virtù, Rabat: Two Bee-eaters (Qerd in-Naħal) Merops apiasterreported having been shot dead over the area • 10 September, Manikata: Golden Oriole (Tajra Safra) Oriolus oriolus shot and euthanised due to injuries sustained (pictured left) • 12 September, Gozo and Malta: Two Black Storks (Ċikonja Sewda) Ciconia nigra shot dead • 13 September, Ħal Far: reports of a Honey Buzzard (Kuċċarda) Pernis apivorus shot down being investigated Timeline of illegalities since start of season "The possibility is that the will of the government to do what is right and protect birds from being illegally shot is all that has changed"